This paper contributes to knowledge and theory building in youth empowerment and entrepreneurship development.
The paper critically examines the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWiN) Programme and its relevance as a youth economic empowerment programme through the lenses of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Youth Strategy entry points for promoting economic empowerment of youth.
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 the light of three key complementary actionoriented approaches to youth entrepreneurship development.
Three key complementary action-oriented approaches to youth entrepreneurship policy/programme design, implementation and evaluation for government, private and voluntary sector are proposed. These are in the form of facilitating participatory engagement and diversity, managing drivers (push/pull factors) of entrepreneurship, and ensuring access to enablers/support. The author highlights the need for further debate and critical inputs to improve theory building towards a normative framework in youth empowerment and entrepreneurship. This will not only reduce poverty, but also promote intergenerational equity and sustainable development.
Ogamba, I. (2018):Millennials empowerment: examining youth entrepreneurship development in policy and practise, In Ahmed, A(Ed.): PPPs partnerships for the implementation of the 2030 agenda for SD, Vol. 1, pp. 275-289.
