This study investigated the moderating effect of smuggling, bad character and negative self-comportment on the creative ability of youths in Shaki boarder town, Oyo State Nigeria. Using the descriptive survey research design, three research questions were asked and three hypotheses tested. Data were collected using four validated instruments, from two hundred (200) randomly selected youths residing in Shaki town in Oyo state Nigeria, a border town with Benin Republic. Analysis of data was done using the multiple regression analysis and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) at 0.05 level of significance. The result of the study revealed that the three independent variables made a joint contribution of 53% on the creative ability of youths. The composite effect of the independent variables as jointly contributive on the creative ability of youths are revealed as thus, R= .703, RS= .565, Adj. RS= .531 and Std. error of estimate 7.112. The result of the multiple regression analysis produced an F-ratio (3/196) = 57.09 which is significant at p<0.05 alpha level. The study further revealed significant relative and contributive effect of each of the independent variables as thus (smuggling β.441; bad character β.496 and negative self-comportment β.394) on the dependent variable. The findings suggest the need for employers of labour to ensure that they are supportive of their employees and possibly provide government, school and significant others to support the development of the creative potentials of youths. This would enable them to adjust favourably to the challenges of the 21st century Nigeria.
Keywords: Bad character, Creativity, Negative self-comportment, Nigeria, Shaki, Smuggling, Youths
