ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT IN NIGERIA: THE 21ST CENTURY EXPERIENCE

Abstract

This study examined the impact of entrepreneurship on
youth empowerment in Nigeria. To achieve the purpose
of this study, three research questions were posed to
guide the study. The study adopted descriptive survey
research design. Relevant data for the study were
collected using questionnaire instrument. The study
sampled 167 respondents. Data collected were analyzed
using frequency and simple percentages. The findings
revealed that entrepreneurship has positive impact on
youth empowerment; it has affected the youth in Nigeria
especially through job creation at 53.9% and it also
creates opportunity among youth to be self-reliant. That
factor like lack of awareness of the functional
entrepreneurship centers for the development of youth
empowerment programmes, have left the existing
entrepreneurship opportunities untapped in Nigeria.
That measure such as provision of credit facilities,
steady power supply and funding of infrastructural
development, among others can enhance the
functionality of entrepreneurship centres in Nigeria.
Based on the findings, the study recommends among
others that Federal government should hasten the power sector reforms and re-stabilize it to end the
loaming energy crisis in Nigeria. This is to encourage
entrepreneurial activities in the country.