The Palgrave Handbook of Entrepreneurship and Youth Employment in Africa

This scholarly Handbook examines the intersection between entrepreneurship and youth employment in Africa, focusing on decent work through education, skills, innovation and policy.

With 60% of Africa’s population under the age of 25, the continent’s youthful workforce presents immense potential. Yet job creation has not kept pace, leaving many young people unemployed or trapped in informal, precarious work. By exploring pathways to decent employment across Africa, this Handbook fills a pressing gap in research and policy.

Directly engaging SDG 8, particularly Target 8.6 on youth employment, education and training, the Handbook covers entrepreneurship, apprenticeship, vocational training, informal work, decent work, technology and policy.

This volume is essential reading for academics, policymakers, educators and development practitioners seeking evidence-informed pathways for using entrepreneurship to support decent employment and economic transformation in Africa.

Abiodun Egbetokun is Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Sustainable Development at De Montfort University, Leicester, United Kingdom. His research examines how entrepreneurship, innovation, skills and institutions shape economic development, with extensive collaboration across academia, governments and international organisations.

Adedayo Olofinyehun is a Researcher at Nigeria’s National Centre for Technology Management and a doctoral researcher at Redeemer’s University, Nigeria. His work focuses on entrepreneurship education, social policy and youth development, including research that informed a major online course for African policymakers.

Oluwaseun Kolade is Professor of Entrepreneurship and Digital Transformation at Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom. He has authored more than 130 academic outputs, led funded research projects and consulted for international organisations, including the British Council. He is lead editor of The Palgrave Handbook of African Entrepreneurship (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022).