NextGen Youth Entrepreneurship Initiative
Building businesses that lift
communities — starting now
The NextGen Youth Entrepreneurship Initiative was created to equip young Africans with the mindset, skills, and practical tools to build sustainable businesses that create jobs, generate income, and solve real problems in their communities.
Executive overview
Why we exist
Africa stands at a defining moment: over 60% of its population is under 25. The continent’s greatest asset is its youth — yet millions remain in cycles of unemployment, underemployment, and poverty.
Across 12 intensive weeks, the program delivered a structured entrepreneurship curriculum, expert-led sessions, and applied learning through real-world case studies and business pitching — emphasizing practical application, leadership, innovation, and problem-solving beyond theory.
Theory of change
When young people gain entrepreneurial skills, leadership capacity, and supportive ecosystems, they can build businesses that lift themselves and others out of poverty.
The challenge
The problem we set out to solve
Despite increasing access to education, many young people graduate without practical business exposure or networks. Youth poverty often persists not from lack of talent, but lack of opportunity — traditional systems can prepare people to seek jobs rather than create them.
- Practical business skills
- Exposure to entrepreneurship as a viable career
- Access to mentors, funding, or networks
- Confidence to take calculated risks
Inputs
- Structured entrepreneurial curriculum
- Experienced facilitators and mentors
- Digital learning platforms
- Peer collaboration and accountability
Activities
- Live classes and workshops
- Case-study driven group assignments
- Leadership and governance simulations
- Capstone business pitches
Outcomes
- Increased income-generation capacity
- Business formation and job creation
- Reduced youth vulnerability to poverty
Program design
Fellowship structure and delivery
- Duration: 12 weeks
- Mode: Virtual (Google Classroom & Google Meet)
- Engagement: 2 live sessions per week + weekly assignments
- Assessment: Attendance, assignments, group work, business pitch
Learning methodology
- Applied learning over theory
- African business realities
- Peer-to-peer collaboration
- Reflection and accountability
Participants worked in teams on evolving case studies that mirrored real startup journeys in Africa.
Areas of learning
- Entrepreneurship as a career (beyond hustle culture)
- Legal structures & corporate governance
- Leadership & ethical decision-making
- Team building & collaboration
- Business development & innovation (design thinking, HCD)
- Communication & public speaking
- Business growth & scaling
- Technology, AI, and digital tools
- Branding & business identity
Each topic was tied to real African business challenges to keep learning relevant and applicable.
Community
Who we reached
Age: 18–30
Locations: Nigeria — including Lagos, Ibadan, and Sokoto
Background: Students, graduates, and early professionals
Sectors: Health, wellness, energy, tech, creative industries, education, food, hospitality — supporting cross-sector innovation.
Individual impact
- Improved entrepreneurial confidence
- Clear business ideas or refined ventures
- Shift from “side hustle” to long-term career framing
- Stronger leadership, communication, and problem-solving
- Greater clarity on purpose, sustainability, and community contribution
At the community level, the fellowship laid groundwork for youth-led business creation, potential local job creation, and innovation across health, education, agriculture, energy, and creative industries — contributing to poverty reduction and inclusive growth.
Cohort 1 — 2025
Impact metrics
Figures from the Cohort 1 impact report. Metrics may be updated as final cohort data is consolidated.
45
Fellows enrolled
66.67%
Completion rate
80%
Avg. attendance
50%+
Validated business ideas
65%
↑ confidence in entrepreneurship
46.7%
Completed full business pitch
14
Startups conceptualized
5
Sectors represented
$500
Grants received
Global goals
Alignment with the SDGs
SDG 1 — No poverty
- Equipping youth with income-generating skills
- Promoting entrepreneurship as a pathway out of poverty
- Encouraging job creation through business ownership
SDG 4 — Quality education
- Delivering accessible, structured entrepreneurial education
- Providing practical, skills-based learning beyond traditional classrooms
SDG 8 — Decent work & economic growth
- Supporting youth employment through enterprise development
- Strengthening Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem
Voices
Fellow testimonials
“The fellowship reinforced one key truth for me: entrepreneurship is not chaos, it’s discipline. It helped me see entrepreneurship as a long-term career that requires systems, people, continuous learning, and strong decision-making, not just ideas or motivation.”
“I learned that entrepreneurship should never be treated as a side hustle. It requires structure, commitment, and long-term thinking. My mindset about entrepreneurship and money also changed in the sense that I now see my business pursuit beyond a means to make ends meet but a means to impact the world and stamp my name on earth.”
Roadmap
Looking ahead
- Expand to two fellowship cohorts per year
- Strengthen alumni support and mentorship
- Deepen partnerships with donors, institutions, and industry leaders
- Track long-term outcomes such as business launches and job creation
Closing statement
The NextGen Youth Entrepreneurship Fellowship is more than a training program — it is a poverty-reduction and empowerment initiative. By investing in youth entrepreneurship, we invest in Africa’s future: one business, one leader, and one community at a time.