ROLE OF DIGITAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN YOUTH EMPOWERMENT IN ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study explored the role of digital entrepreneurship in youth empowerment in Enugu State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 900 respondents studied; 300 from the markets and 600 from the tertiary institutions. Data were collected through questionnaire and analysed using means and percentages. Results indicated that while digital entrepreneurship represents new ways that entrepreneurs adopt in making their business digital, it positively contributed to youth empowerment and national growth through job creation (M=3.35) and improved tax remittances (100%). Youths were engaged in the use of two major platforms; collaboration (WhatsApp, Skype, Zoom) (100%) and social platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest) (100%). For income generation through content creation (29%) web creation (20%), digital marketing (15%) crypto trading (12%), and app development (11%). These activities empower them by making them self-employed (M = 4.04), wealthy (M = 3,74), have more business networks (M = 3.44), access to markets (M = 3.82) and knowledge enhancement (M = 3.02). However, factors militating against their engagement in digital entrepreneurship were lack of capital (M = 4.26), interest (M = 4.03), information (M = 3.95) and electricity (M = 3.84). Therefore, the positive use of digital platforms by the youths can help empower them by developing their career, skills and well-being.