Information And Communication Technology (Ict) And Graduate Unemployment In Nigeria: The 21St Century Challenges

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between Information and Communication Technology [ICT] and graduate and non-graduate unemployment in Ogun-State, Nigeria. As a descriptive survey, the study's population comprised all graduates and non-graduates in the twenty [20] local governments in the State. Out of this population, a sample of unemployed graduates and non-graduates in three [3] prominent local governments was selected. Out of the 10,556 graduates and 5,150
non-graduates in the sample, 6,256 graduates and 3,308 school certificate holders were selected through the multi-stage and stratified random sampling techniques. The instrument used for the study was questionnaire. Responses were however received from 1,202 respondents. This made up of 862 unemployed graduates and 340 non-graduates making a total of 78.7%. The data collected were analyzed using percentages and t-test. The findings showed that ICT played significant role in solving unemployment problems. Based on the findings, it was recommended that ICT should either be hired or procured adequately to meet the search and challenges of unemployment in the 21st century in Nigeria. The state government should live up to its expectation in providing and subsidizing ICT cost and training for students at secondary and tertiary levels of education.