EFFECT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC, INNOVATIVE APPROACHES AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF YOUTHS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

Abstract

Coronavirus is no longer regarded as a new phenomenon in Nigeria because many countries across the global community are facing unprecedented challenges due to this pandemic. The threat is not only on the health of humanity but also on the socio-economic and livelihoods especially in Urban City like Lagos. This work hinges on effect of COVID-19 pandemic, innovative approaches and socio-economic status of youths in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study specifically adopted the survey method of descriptive and correlation research design. The population of this study comprised of all the 20 recognized Local Government Area in Lagos State. A purposive simple random sampling method was adopted. Thus, 51 of both male/female working class youths participants were randomly selected to fill the instrument in each of the Local Government Area. In all a total of 1020 working class youths responded to the research instrument. The instrument for data collection was a self-developed questionnaire titled, “Questionnaire on Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic, Innovative Approaches and Socio-Economic Status of Youths” (QECPIASESY) and this was validated and found reliable at r = 0.78. Two research questions and one null research hypothesis was formulated and tested. The results revealed that there is a significant effect of COVID-19 pandemic on socio-economic status of youths in Lagos State, Nigeria. It was however concluded that COVID-19 pandemic has a high rate effect on socio-economic status of youths in Lagos State, Nigeria. Recommendations were given amongst is that government should strategies towards sustainable economic empowerment so that youths will be taken out of poverty in Lagos State and Nigeria at large.