The focus of this paper was to show the instrumentality of youth empowerment to nation-building in Nigeria. It observed that the National Youth Service Corps Scheme (NYSC), the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) as agencies of youth empowerment had accelerated the socio-economic development of the country. The NYSC established by Decree 24 of 1973 encouraged members of the Corps to seek employment all over the country, thus promoting occupational mobility. Participants were exposed to the mode of living of the people in different parts of the country with a view to removing prejudices, eliminating ignorance and confirming, at first hand, the many similarities among Nigerians of all ethnic groups. The NDE ran the National Youth Employment and Vocational Skills Development Programme, Small Scale Industries and Graduate Employment Programme, Agriculture Sector Employment Programme and Special Public Works Programme. NAPEP had employed, over 1,500,000 youths under the Capacity Acquisition Programme and 1,000,000 unemployed graduates under the Mandatory Acquisition Programme. Providing employment to youths was a prudent way of making them better not bitter and therefore fighting crimes often associated with idle hands. The paper recommended that more Nigerian youths be trained as craftsmen and technicians to make for self-reliance. Indeed, the presence of unemployed youths could pose serious challenges to existing peace in any community
Keywords: Employment, Empowerment, NAPEP Youths, NDE, Nation Building
