This study investigates the role of information and communication technology (ICT) development towards ending youth unemployment in the 48 sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries from 1991 to 2018. Using a dynamic panel modelling technique, the study employed the instrumental variable (IV) regression, within the framework of the system generalized method of moment (GMM-SYS) estimator. The results show that the low level of mobile phone subscriptions, broadband internet subscriptions, Wi-Fi internet subscriptions and internet bandwidth exert a significant negative effect on youth unemployment. This means that ICT development reduces youth unemployment in SSA. Also, it was found that the number of households with access to computers has a negative but insignificant effect on youth unemployment; this shows the ineffective role of household computers in reducing youth unemployment in SSA. Based on these findings, we recommend among other things that, for government to optimize the expanding youth population, there is the need for further telecommunication reforms to reduce the cost of mobile phone technologies and improved ultra-modern internet facilities in the region.

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Economic diversification is identified as a recipe for achieving inclusive growth and the role of institutions in strengthening the process of diversification cannot be ruled out. This study examined the role of institutions in helping economic diversification to achieve inclusive growth in Nigeria. Inclusive growth was measured using the growth rate of the inequality-adjusted human development index. Based on the Solow growth model and adopting the Johansen cointegration test, the results show that economic diversification in Nigeria does not significantly contribute to inclusive growth. The interaction of diversification with the institutions gave a positive significant result meaning that effective institutions will help economic diversification contribute to inclusive growth. Hence, the government using appropriate institutions can ensure an investment-friendly environment to support economic diversification and encourage inclusive growth in Nigeria.

The fight against poverty is one of the key components of the development of any country. If the percentage of poor people is high, there will be slow development. The government policies and program such as YOUWIN, Better Life is aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship and supporting women into business. Despite these efforts, poverty incidence still increases among women in micro business. This study examined government alleviation programs and dimension of poverty among women into micro business in Anambra state, Nigeria. It is a descriptive survey research. Probability and non- probability sampling technique were employed in which the samples were drawn using multi-stage sampling and purposive sampling technique. Questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square and Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). The findings of this study showed that most women participating in micro business are not aware of poverty reduction programs and do not have access to such programs. The study also found out that most of the women still experience hardship, no access to infrastructure, no good health care system and low standard of living which indicates that poverty has not reduced. The study recommended among others that the government should target its reduction policies towards the multidimensional indicators (good infrastructure, good health care system etc.) of poverty in order to eradicate poverty.

Small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) have been identified as the engine and foundation of rapid industrial growth. Unfortunately, the potentials of the SMEs to accelerate the process of industrialization in Africa have been undermined by numerous constraints, prominent among which is lack of access to finance. The study examined the impact of SMEs financing on industrial growth in Africa using panel time-series data from all the 15 ECOWAS countries from 1986 – 2016. In implementing the panel data regression, the study engaged in panel unit root using the LLC, IPM, Fisher-type ADF and PP tests, and co-integration tests using the Kao residual-based and Johansen- Fisher combined tests. The study also placed adequate control for any unobserved heterogeneity among the ECOWAS countries, using a well-specified fixed effect in exploiting the time dimension present in the dataset. The result shows that SMEs output significantly affects industrial growth positively while the Deposit Money Banks’ credit to SME’s do not have significant impact on industrial performance during the review period. The result further reveals that interest rates have a significant negative impact on industrial growth. Based on these findings, the study recommends that monetary authorities in ECOWAS countries can encourage easy access to finance by making available interest-free loans using microfinance institutions.