This study investigated the role of the Youth Empowerment Scheme (Project YES)
of Niger State, Nigeria as a non-governmental organization in poverty alleviation
through skills acquisition. The study was carried out to determine the impact of Project
YES in poverty alleviation in the State and also to determine whether the scheme has
succeeded in empowering its beneficiaries in terms of skill acquisition for selfempowerment.
A survey design was adopted for the study. The study revealed that the
Scheme has succeeded in empowering its beneficiaries by way of vocational skills
acquisition hence contributing to a change in their socio-economic status. Based on the
findings, the study recommends among others the urgent need to introduce the scheme
at the Local Government Area levels to cater for the poverty stricken rural dwellers,
and also the need for government at all levels to encourage individuals, philanthropists
and philanthropic organizations to set up poverty alleviation related NGOs to
supplement her effort in fighting the scourge of poverty in Nigeria.