Abstract

This study examined the influence of counselling interventions on youth socio-economic development in Abia State, Nigeria. A correlational research design was adopted, and a sample of 400 youths aged 18–35 years was purposively selected from urban and semi-urban communities. Data were collected using a 30-item instrument titled Counselling Interventions and Youth Socio-Economic Development Questionnaire (CIYSEDQ), with reliability coefficients ranging from 0.85 to 0.88 and an overall reliability index of 0.87. The findings revealed that career counselling and entrepreneurial counselling have significant positive influences on youth socio-economic development, while life-skills counselling showed a positive but non-significant direct influence. The study concludes that strengthening structured career and entrepreneurial counselling services is essential for promoting sustainable youth empowerment, employability, and economic participation in Abia State.

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