SKILL ACQUISITION FOR RETIREES IN ONDO WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ONDO STATE: GATEWAY TO SUSTAINABILITY DURING RETIREMENT

Retirement has remained an issue of economic and sociological concern in Nigeria. The period has been plagued with several challenges that make sustainability very difficult. This study examines skill acquisition by retirees in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State as a gateway to ensure sustainable living during retirement. The objectives of the study were to identify the prospects of skill-acquisition towards sustainable retirement based on gender, to highlight the skills acquirable by retirees in the study area, to enumerate the factors impeding the acquisition of skills by male and female retirees during their active service, and to suggest strategies to enhance skill acquisition before retirement. Hence, four research questions were asked for the study. Descriptive survey research design was used. The population consisted of one thousand and fifty retirees in the study area, and 38 respondents (representing 3.6% of the population) were randomly sampled for the study. A 40-item structured 4-point Likert scale questionnaire was used for data collection. Data collected were analyzed descriptively (mean and variance)and inferentially (t-test) to answer the research questions. Some of the identified skills acquirable by employees to ensure sustainability during retirement are tailoring, weaving, knitting and embroidery, hat and bead making, textile production (e.g. tie and dye, batik), bakery, cookery and managing eatery, crèche and child care services. However, the acquisition of skills is often impeded by factors such as lack of proper orientation, interest and time, and insufficient funds. Therefore, it was recommended that employees should attend entrepreneurial seminars long before retirement, and that government, private establishments, non-governmental and religious organisations should organize practical skill acquisition programmes for workers during their active service.