IMPACT OF DEMOCRACY ON NIGER STATE YOUTH: A STUDY OF ZONE C SENATORIAL DISTRICT

Abstract

The study examine the impact of democratic governance in nurturing democratic political values on the youth of Niger state focusing on zone c senatorial zone the variables employed in the study include understanding of democratic governance, attitude toward election and political participation. The research question, objectives and hypothesis were built around these variables. Data for the study were generated from both primary and secondary sources, using the instrument of questionnaire, document and the internet. Data was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using both descriptive and inferential statistic. The chi-square statistical tools are utilized through the SPSS package.The study revealed that the zone c prefer democracy than any other form of government of the youth are interested in participating in the political process either as voters or contestants for public offices. The study also found that grassroots democratic participation has been either directly or indirectly hindered in zone c because leaders of youth associations and clubs are mainly nominated by elders or patrons. It recommends the entrenchment of the culture of democratic election in youth or associations exposure of the youth to practical understanding of the workings of the institutions of democracy, that political education should not be restricted to adult citizens but it should include all youth and the introduction of a curriculum in Nigeria secondary schools called democratic studies for secondary schools (DSSS).