In September 2025, researchers at the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) embarked on a nationwide fieldwork exercise under the Mastercard Foundation-funded ‘Youth Futures in Dignified and Fulfilling Work in Africa’ Project. The project forms part of a multi-country research initiative that explores how young people in Africa navigate work and enterprise within changing economic landscapes.
The Nigerian component of the study focused on indigenous enterprises, locally rooted, often informal businesses where innovation, creativity, and resilience intersect with traditional knowledge and community networks.
During the fieldwork, NISER researchers conducted focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with youth entrepreneurs operating in diverse sectors such as agro-enterprises, textiles, craft production, and beauty and cosmetics. The team also held key informant interviews with representatives of relevant government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), as well as informal training centres, incubation hubs, and educational institutions that play active roles in supporting youth employment and enterprise development in Nigeria. The scope of the study covered a total of 20 locations: three states in each of the country’s six geopolitical zones, Lagos (Nigeria’s commercial capital), and the Federal Capital Territory.
This phase of the study provided rich opportunities to hear directly from young entrepreneurs about their motivations, aspirations, and lived experiences in building and sustaining enterprises. Participants shared insights into the social dynamics shaping their work, the structural challenges they face — from access to finance and markets to regulatory barriers — and the innovative strategies they adopt to stay competitive in a rapidly changing economy.
As the fieldwork phase concludes, NISER’s research team is now analysing the wealth of qualitative data collected to identify key themes and policy-relevant insights for the ongoing study. Findings from this study will contribute to a broader understanding of how to create dignified and fulfilling work opportunities for Africa’s youth, while strengthening local capacities for innovation and sustainable development.