Millennials empowerment: youth entrepreneurship for sustainable development

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to contribute to knowledge and theory building in youth empowerment and entrepreneurship development. Design/methodology/approach This paper critically examines the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWiN) programme and its relevance as a youth economic empowerment programme through the lens of the UNDP Youth Strategy entry points for promoting economic empowerment of youth and extant literature on critical youth empowerment using participatory development theories. Findings While YouWiN is a significant intervention towards entrepreneurship development, it presents some flaws and limitations in the design and implementation process, which may challenge sustainable economic development. Hence, there is a need to explore the millennials empowerment paradigm in light of three key complementary action-oriented approaches to youth entrepreneurship development. Originality/value This paper proposes three key complementary action-oriented approaches to youth entrepreneurship policy/programme design, implementation and evaluation for the multilateral agencies, private and voluntary sectors. These are in the form of facilitating participatory engagement and diversity, managing drivers (push/pull factors) of entrepreneurship, and ensuring access to enablers/support. There is the need for further debate and critical inputs to improve theory building towards a normative framework in youth empowerment and entrepreneurship. This contributes to ending poverty, and promoting intergenerational equity and sustainable development.

Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship in Nigeria: Implication for Economic Diversification

“…This study therefore tries to bridge this study gap by examining youth empowerment and entrepreneurship development, laying emphasis on its implication for economic diversification in Nigeria. This study departs entirely from previous studies in Nigeria (such as Abasilim, et al, 2017;Egbefo and Abe, 2017;Mukhtar et al, 2018;Ogamba, 2019;Ogbondah & Nwogu, 2017;Okoli & Okoli, 2013;Tagwai, 2020) by adopting multinomial logistic regression model and applying Nigeria Enterprise Survey Data to examine the study's objective.…”

“…Previous studies such as Okoli and Okoli (2013), Olajide and Akojenu (2017), Yusuf (2017), Egbefo and Abe (2017), Ogbondah and Nwogu (2017), Abasilim et al (2017), Mukhtar et al (2018), Ogamba (2019), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD, 2019), Tagwai (2020), among others, have tried to look at either youth entrepreneurship or entrepreneurship development differently without looking at youth empowerment and entrepreneurship development together especially with reference to Nigeria. None of the reviewed studies have tried to examine the implication of economic diversification brought about by youth empowerment and entrepreneurship development in Nigeria's case.…”

“…None of the reviewed studies have tried to examine the implication of economic diversification brought about by youth empowerment and entrepreneurship development in Nigeria's case. Some studies such as Okoli and Okoli (2013), Egbefo and Abe (2017), Ogbondah and Nwogu (2017), Abasilim et al (2017), Ogamba (2019), Mukhtar et al (2018), and Tagwai (2020) concentrated on youth empowerment and entrepreneurship education, x-rayed only with empirical review method and no application of empirical or survey data analysis from Nigeria. However, Yusuf (2017) applied survey data but used descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis based on ordinary least squares (OLS).…”

State of Entrepreneurship Attitude and Intention among Malaysian Youngsters

“…Entrepreneurship is a very powerful economic driver to develop the innovation, start-up, and job creation of a nation (Osman and Ngah, 2016). The entrepreneurship empowerment that is given to the youngsters is expected to enhance the socio-economic development momentum for the nation (Ogamba, 2018). The strong culture that is built based on entrepreneurial orientation will definitely stimulate the market, which is very important for business performance (Amin, Thurasamy, Aldakhil and Kaswuri, 2016).…”

The Entrepreneurs Environment Nexus: Understanding the Entrepreneurial Training, Skills and Networking for Youths’ Business Sustainability

“…Government strategy around the globe in ensuring the country's economic prosperity is focus on youth entrepreneurship development. The involvement of youth in entrepreneurship is seen as to have many advantages especially in addressing the problems of unemployment, poverty and promoting the country's economic growth (Ogamba, 2019). According to ILO (2017) for the year 2017 and 2018 indicates the positive growth in economic development around the world.…”