Resource-Based Livelihoods and Youths’ Educational Participation in Rural Nigeria: Evidence from Agoi, Yakurr Lga
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64229/9dfk3e36Keywords:
Rural education, Child labour, School attendance, Dropout, Rural livelihoods, NigeriaAbstract
This study investigated the effects of resource-based livelihood activities specifically gold mining, timber extraction, and agricultural production (cocoa and yam) on youths' educational participation in Agoi communities, Yakurr LGA, Cross River State, Nigeria. Employing a survey research design and triangulated methodology, data were collected from 300 students selected from three purposively chosen public secondary schools and integrated with school attendance and retention records. Data were analyzed using composite mean indices and trend relationship analysis. Findings revealed that all three livelihood activities negatively influence school attendance, retention, and completion. Agricultural production recorded the strongest effect (composite mean = 2.87), followed by gold mining (2.61) and timber extraction (2.60). Seasonal attendance declined to 49-55% during peak livelihood periods, and completion rates ranged from 66.7% to 72.6% across schools. The study concludes that resource-based livelihoods impose structural opportunity costs on youths' education and recommends integrated policy interventions including conditional cash transfers, regulatory enforcement of child labour legislation, and school-compatible livelihood diversification programmes.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Bassey John Okoi, Ruth Moses Onen, Daniel Joshua Ikot , Christiana Efut Okoi, Solomon Oka Ofem (Author)
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