NISER Partners with ISSER to Launch Multi-Country Study on Youth Futures in Indigenous Enterprises

On Tuesday, July 29th, the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), in collaboration with the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), Ghana, hosted a high-level stakeholder engagement event at its headquarters in Ibadan. The programme forms part of a Mastercard Foundation-funded, multi-country study on Youth Futures in Dignified and Fulfilling Work in Africa, with particular focus on youth engaged in indigenous enterprises within the informal economy.

The project spans six African countries—Ghana, Senegal, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Nigeria—and seeks to deepen understanding of youth participation in sectors such as beauty and cosmetics, textiles, agro-based enterprises, and crafts.

Introducing the Study to Key Nigerian Stakeholders

The objective of the workshop was to formally introduce the study to relevant stakeholders within Nigeria’s federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as youth representatives working in informal enterprises. The gathering offered a platform to share the scope of the study, elicit feedback, and foster stakeholder collaboration.

In her opening remarks, Professor Antonia Taiye Simbine, Director-General of NISER, underscored the vital role that informal enterprises play in Nigeria’s economy. She described them as “spaces where innovation, resilience, and cultural expression thrive,” and emphasized the importance of engaging local stakeholders in shaping the study’s data collection approach to ensure it is inclusive, participatory, and rooted in local context.

Prof. Simbine also expressed optimism about the workshop’s potential to lay the foundation for long-term partnerships during the course of the study.

Context and Scope of the Study

Dr. Tolulope Jerumeh, a member of the NISER research team, provided an overview of the study’s design and objectives. She explained that the research targets African youth aged 15 to 35 who are engaged in indigenous enterprises, particularly within informal settings. Nigeria’s leg of the study will cover all six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), using a mixed-methods approach that combines both quantitative and qualitative data.

According to Dr. Jerumeh, the study will leverage primary and secondary data to explore youth aspirations, barriers to sustainable livelihoods, and opportunities for dignified work in the informal sector.

Stakeholder Roles and Feedback

Following the study overview, Dr. Segun Awode outlined the anticipated roles and contributions of stakeholders, including policymakers, youth organizations, industry leaders, and sectoral experts. His presentation highlighted the value of cross-sectoral collaboration in generating insights that are not only academically robust but also actionable.

The workshop concluded with a lively interactive session, during which participants posed questions and offered suggestions on areas where they could support the project. These included collaboration in field data collection, stakeholder mapping, sector-specific insights, and knowledge dissemination.

A Step Toward Inclusive Policy and Youth Empowerment

The successful hosting of this stakeholder workshop reinforces NISER’s commitment to producing research that is relevant, participatory, and policy-driven. The Institute looks forward to contributing to the broader continental conversation on youth employment and to collaborating with ISSER and other partners in charting a pathway to dignified and fulfilling work for Africa’s youth.