This scholarly Handbook provides a holistic understanding of the intersection between entrepreneurship and youth employment in Africa, focusing on advancing decent work through education, skills, innovation and policy.

With 60% of the African population under the age of 25, this demographic presents immense potential, where a large, youthful workforce can drive growth and innovation. However, job creation has not kept pace, leaving many young people unemployed or trapped in informal, precarious work. By exploring diverse pathways to decent employment across Africa, this Handbook fills a pressing gap in literature.

Directly addressing the targets of SDG 8, particularly SDG 8.6 (‘substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training’), the Handbook adopts a deliberately integrative approach, covering themes such as entrepreneurship, apprenticeship, vocational training, informal work, decent work, technology, and policy. With this holistic approach integrating theoretical perspectives with practical case studies, the book offers a clear understanding and actionable strategies to facilitate decent employment, meaningful livelihoods, and inclusive and sustainable employment ecosystems.

With contributions from renowned scholars and practitioners, who provide evidence-based insights into diverse pathways for enhancing economic participation, this volume is essential for academics, policymakers, educators, and development practitioners seeking to understand and address the complex challenges presented. Whether you are a researcher, educator, or policymaker, this book provides valuable insights into leveraging entrepreneurship for economic transformation in Africa.

Abiodun Egbetokun is Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Sustainable Development at De Montfort University, Leicester, United Kingdom. His work focuses on entrepreneurship, innovation and economic development. His research has produced over 100 publications. 

Adedayo Olofinyehun is a Researcher in the Technological Innovation and Enterprise Studies Department at Nigeria’s National Centre for Technology Management. He holds a Master’s in Social Policy and Development from the London School of Economics and is a doctoral researcher at Redeemer’s University, Nigeria. His 2018 paper evaluating entrepreneurship education in Nigeria informed a massive open online course for African policymakers, reaching over 400 participants so far.  

Oluwaseun Kolade is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Digital Transformation at Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom. He is the author of more than 130 academic outputs. He has also led or contributed to several funded research projects and has served as a consultant for various international organisations, including the British Council. He is the lead editor of The Palgrave Handbook of African Entrepreneurship (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022).