Muslim Youth Participation and Economic Self-Reliance in Ibarapa East Local Government of Oyo State

This paper examined the roles of Muslim Youths in promoting economic self-sustainability in Ibarapa East Local Government Area of Oyo State. Using a stratified sampling technique, out of the total population, a sample of 320 was chosen for the study. The study investigates on the involvement of Muslim youth participation in the economic self-reliance in the Ibarapa East Local Government. Three (3) research questions were generated for the study with research designed questionnaire of 15 items used for the data collection. The instrument was validated with the aid of test-retest method and its reliability yielded a co-efficient of 0.73. Data collected was analyzed with frequency count, percentage and weighted mean statistics. Findings from the study revealed that despite the rich legacy like trade, Agriculture and entrepreneurship skills that remain relevant in today’s socio-economic environments, Muslim youth in Ibarapa East Local Government Area of Oyo State face socio-economic challenges which include unemployment, underemployment and limited access to financial resources. Also, it is well noted that Islam encourages self-reliance, craftsmanship, productivity and value that align closely with modern economic development goals. It was therefore recommended that understanding and harnessing the economic capabilities of Muslim youth is should be empowered through policy interventions, capacity building and community support. Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Exploring, Muslim Youth, Questionnaire, Self-Sustainability.