Small group communication as a counseling intervention strategy for promoting interest, skills, and behavioural intention towards business start up among youth who are victims of conflict in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The increasing number of displaced persons globally as a result of natural and manmade disaster suggests that relying on donations to feed such vulnerable individuals is not sustainable. Despite this humanitarian crisis, literature regarding how to promote the involvement of displaced persons in business is still at the development stage.

Objective: The goal of this study was to examine the effect of small group communication as a counseling intervention for promoting interest, skills, and behavioural intention towards business start up  among youth who are victims of conflict.  The study  focused attention on those who are displaced from the conflict between farmers and herdsmen in Benue State, North  Central Nigeria.

Methodology: The researchers achieved the goal of this study using a quasi-experimental design. A total of 470 young victims of conflict took part in the study and were randomly assigned to control and treatment groups. Data were collected with the use of a structured questionnaire while independent t-test was used to analyse the result.

Results: The results of our experiment showed that respondents who were exposed to the intervention reported greater interest, skills and more positive intentions towards business start up than their counterparts who were not.

Key contribution: The result of this study highlights the usefulness of small group communication as a tool for skill acquisition and behaviour intention towards business start up among vulnerable youth.

Conclusion: If victims of conflict receive adequate training, they could be empowered to become self-sustaining, rather then depending on donations for their livelihood.

Recommendations:  Stakeholders should invest greater efforts in empowering young victims of conflict rather than focusing attention on the donations.