Missed the third Entrepreneurship Exchange? Learn more about the key takeaways from the session!

What was the Session about?

This session explored how education systems are shaping—or failing to shape—the next generation of young entrepreneurs. It focused on the gaps in practical skills training, accessibility of resources, and the role of inclusive education in equipping youth for entrepreneurial success. Participants discussed how collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors could enhance entrepreneurship education and better prepare young people to drive change in their communities.

Objectives of the Session:

1. Explore how education systems are influencing youth entrepreneurship and identify gaps that hinder young people from accessing opportunities, with a focus on Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
2. Highlight challenges faced by marginalized youth, especially women, in accessing entrepreneurial resources, including regional disparities and the digital divide.
3.  Facilitate collaboration between youth entrepreneurs and public and private sectors to create actionable recommendations for improving entrepreneurship education and supporting young entrepreneurs.

Objectives of the Series: 

Strengthen the enabling environment for youth entrepreneurship as a means to strengthen democracy globally. Insights from each session in this series will be captured and analysed, and a summary brief will be developed. This will inform a video spotlight report and a policy paper with recommendations on how the private sector and governments can better support youth entrepreneurship.

Key takeaways from the session: 

1. Many educational systems, especially in Africa, lack early-stage entrepreneurship training, focusing instead on theory over practical skills.
2. Clear policies and frameworks to support youth entrepreneurship are missing in many regions, hindering young entrepreneurs’ development.
3. Young entrepreneurs face challenges in accessing funding, infrastructure, quality training, and mentorship, especially in Nigeria and Zambia.
4. Educational systems emphasize theory, with little hands-on experience to prepare students for real-world entrepreneurship.
5. Young entrepreneurs in rural areas often struggle to access programs and resources to build entrepreneurial skills.
6. Access to mentorship and support networks is essential for young entrepreneurs to overcome challenges and grow their businesses.
7.  Programs such as the Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program, Going Beyond – Partnering for a Youth-Led Future and Kaya offer effective training, funding, and support networks for young entrepreneurs and are essential for preparing young entrepreneurs, particularly in tech fields.
8. Education systems need to focus on practical, creative, and problem-solving skills to equip students for entrepreneurship.
9. Many youth-led start-ups and organizations like Amanoso and Gamoteca already play a key role in youth entrepreneurship but often lack the reach needed for large-scale impact.

Recommendations

1. We need to embed entrepreneurship in the curriculum from an early age, emphasizing hands-on skills like critical thinking and creativity.
2. Promote partnerships to provide mentorship, internships, and funding, with the private sector offering resources and governments supporting frameworks.
3. Design entrepreneurship programs that are accessible to marginalized and less-literate youth, with a focus on gender inclusivity.
4. Increase initiatives like the Elumelu Program and establish more innovation hubs that blend theory with practical entrepreneurial skills.
5. Create community-based hubs to offer mentorship, networking, and resources like seed funding for young entrepreneurs.

There is a need for the government to support entrepreneurship programs; there are no deliberate action plans to create platforms that give students insights into the journey of entrepreneurship.

Young participant, Nigeria

As a researcher, your presentation has opened my mind to how little I am doing to bring these issues to the right audience. Change will not take place if we, the young ones, do not persist and show the world through evidence-based research that is real-time past academics. I am glad to be here.

Young participant, Zambia

Moderator of the session:

Namkoto

Speakers of the session:

Brighton Kaoma

Atish Gonsalves

Peter George

Richa Gupta