Youth Participation in Continuing Education Programmes in Maiduguri, Borno State

This study examined factors influencing youth participation in continuing education programmes in Maiduguri, Borno State, North East Nigeria. The insurgency-affected North East region has experienced widespread educational disruption, creating a large cohort of young people who require catch-up education and skills upgrading opportunities. The study adopted a descriptive survey design targeting 180 young adults aged 18 to 35 who had participated in or were enrolled in continuing education programmes administered by government agencies and non-governmental organisations in Maiduguri. Questionnaires, interviews, and programme records were employed for data collection. Findings revealed that economic necessity, vocational skills interest, and peer influence were the primary motivators for continuing education participation among Maiduguri youth. Insecurity concerns, economic hardship, family responsibilities, and limited awareness of programme locations and enrolment processes were identified as dominant barriers. Youth who had experienced direct displacement were paradoxically more likely to engage in continuing education than those who had not, suggesting that crisis experiences can heighten educational motivation. Programmes providing stipends or food support demonstrated significantly higher retention rates. Recommendations include expanding psychosocial support services within continuing education programmes, creating clearly visible community information points for programme registration, and developing short-cycle vocational modules that produce marketable competencies within three to six months. Coordination between humanitarian agencies, government education bodies, and community leaders is identified as essential for sustainable programme delivery in the post-conflict context. Keywords: youth participation, continuing education, post-conflict, Maiduguri, Borno State.