EXAMINING THE EXTENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES GOVERNANCE ON YOUTH EMPOWERMENT IN KOKONA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the extent to which management of natural resources has contributed to youth empowerment in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The study was anchored on the Governance Theory by James Rosenau (1992) and the Resource Curse Theory by Richard Auty (1993), which explain how weak institutional frameworks and poor management structures lead to resource abundance coexisting with underdevelopment and exclusion. A survey research design was adopted, integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data were collected from 372 respondents comprising registered youth farmers, artisanal miners, forest users, officials of Kokona LGA Secretariat, Nasarawa State Ministry of Natural Resources, and youth cooperative leaders using structured questionnaires and interview guides. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, while qualitative data were subjected to thematic content analysis. The findings revealed that natural resource governance in Kokona LGA has made minimal contribution to youth empowerment. A majority of respondents indicated that resource extraction activities are not properly regulated, revenues are not transparently accounted for, and local communities do not benefit fairly from resource extraction. The study further established that youth are systematically excluded from resource governance structures, with less than 15 percent having access to mining licenses or representation on management committees. Resource revenues have not translated into skills training, scholarships, employment, or enterprise support for young people. Corruption, domination by political elites, poor transparency, and lack of political will were identified as the major barriers. The study concludes that weak and exclusionary governance structures have prevented natural resource wealth from becoming a catalyst for youth empowerment in Kokona LGA. It recommends establishing a Natural Resource Revenue Trust Fund with mandatory allocation of at least 30 percent to youth programs, adopting a youth quota policy for resource management positions, simplifying licensing processes for young people, and institutionalizing public accountability mechanisms. 

Keywords: Natural resources governance, youth empowerment, resource curse, Kokona LGA, Nasarawa State

DOI: www.doi.org/10.36349/fujpam.2026.v5i01.016

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author/Micah Noah Thomas

journal/FUJPAM Vol. 5, No. 1