CiteNScope — Scholarly Index & Analytics
Discover / IJRBSPUBLICATION RECORD

Empowering African youth for sustainable peace: the role of skills training and entrepreneurship

Daniel Chigudu ORCID ↗

International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science · 2025 · Vol. 14 / Issue 5 · 548-557

Research reach

Publication metrics

External links open provider records or DOI searches. Provider counts are not combined. Mendeley readership measures saves, not citations.

Dimensions

Live provider badge. If unavailable, use the Dimensions link above.

CROSSREF CITATIONS1

Observed 21 Oct 2026, 07:22 UTC

OpenAlex · Citations1Cached provider observation

Observed 21 Oct 2026 07:23 UTC

Mendeley · Readers—No verified count available

OpenAlex and Mendeley observations refresh on article visits, at most once per 24 hours. Unavailable data is not zero. Google Scholar opens a DOI search.

OpenAlex / Citation year

Annual citations to this article

View provider totals ↑

Citations received by this article, grouped by the year of the citing work. Crossref and OpenAlex lifetime totals remain separate in Publication metrics.

2017–2026 Annual history last updated:

Citations received

OpenAlex · year of the citing work

OpenAlex

Hover over a year or focus the chart and use arrow keys to inspect values.

2017–2026 annual-history window. 2026 is year to date. Unknown years have gaps.

View data & coverage

2026 is incomplete. Within a successfully fetched ten-year window, omitted years mean zero. Years beyond a saved observation’s window remain unknown (—). Older citations are excluded, so this chart’s sum may differ from the OpenAlex lifetime total. The date above belongs to this annual history; an unsuccessful refresh keeps the previous observation.

Overview

Abstract

This study investigates how business and skill development can enable African youth to advance lasting peace amid obstacles like unemployment and conflict. Addressing structural obstacles to economic opportunity is essential for promoting social stability and development in Africa, where the youth population is expanding quickly. In order to assess the effects of entrepreneurship and vocational training programs on youth empowerment and peacebuilding, the study uses a secondary qualitative analytical methodology, using organizational reports, case studies of African programs, and existing literature. The results show that vocational training programs run by Young Africa's Skills2Live project and Don Bosco Tech Africa have improved community cohesiveness, economic independence, and employability. In addition to lowering their susceptibility to extremist recruiting, entrepreneurship programs have given young people the skills they need to deal with financial difficulties. Nonetheless, issues including gender inequality, restricted financial resources, and a lack of alignment between training initiatives and industry needs continue to exist. It is revealed that entrepreneurship and skill development are progressive strategies for reducing youth unemployment and promoting peace. Some policy proposals include increasing access to vocational training, encouraging gender-inclusive entrepreneurial projects, fortifying public-private partnerships, and including conflict resolution education in empowerment programs. These tactics are crucial for Africa's youngsters to have a resilient and peaceful future.

Keywords: {'name': 'Sustainable Peace'}, {'name': 'Youth Empowerment'}, {'name': 'Skills Training'}, {'name': 'Entrepreneurship'}, {'name': 'Economic Development'}

Authors & affiliations

Daniel Chigudu
Affiliation not supplied

Deposited references

Supplied references, not a list of publications citing this article.

ABI. (2024). African Countries with the Highest Youth Unemployment Rate. Retrieved March 23, 2025, from Africa Business Insider: https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/african-countries-with-the-highest-youth-unemployment-rate/06ykn9b

ACCORD. (2023). Challenges of Peacebuilding in Africa. Retrieved March 22, 2025, from Durban: ACCORD: https://www.accord.org.za/conflict-trends/challenges-of-peacebuilding-in-africa/

AfDB. (2024). Jobs for Youth in Africa. Retrieved March 20, 2025, from Abidjan: African Development Bank: https://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Images/high_5s/Job_youth_Africa_Job_youth_Africa.pdf

ALM. (2024). Youth Unemployment in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities. Retrieved March 23, 2025, from African Leadership Magazine: https://www.africanleadershipmagazine.co.uk/youth-unemployment-in-africa-challenges-and-opportunities/

Aspyee. (2024). 8 Key Challenges & Solutions for Africa's TVET by 2030. Retrieved March 24, 2025, from https://www.aspyee.org/index.php/blog/eight-key-issues-tvet-africa-between-now-and-2030

AUDA-NEPAD. (2024). The Africa Skills Revolution Campaign. Retrieved March 24, 2025, from Midrand: African Union Development Agency-NEPAD.: https://www.nepad.org/africaskillsrevolution

Azeng, T. F., & Yogo, T. U. (2013). Youth Unemployment and Political Instability in Selected Developing Countries. Retrieved March 24, 2025, from Tunis: African Development Bank Group: https://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Publications/Working_Paper_171.

BI. (2025). Peacebuilding. Retrieved March 20, 2025, from Beyond Intractability.Boulder: Conflict Information Consortium at the University of Colorado Boulder. https://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/peacebuilding

DOI: 10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Campos, F., Goldstein, M., & McKenzie, D. (2015). Breaking Gender Barriers: The Impact of Female Entrepreneurs Crossing into Male-Dominated Sectors. Zurich: World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 7503.

CSEA-Africa. (2023). Youth Unemployment and Gender Inequality in Africa. Retrieved March 21, 2025, from Abuja: Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa. https://cseaafrica.org/images/posts/38597826.pdf

Don-Bosco. (2024). Annual Report on TVET Programs Across Sub-Saharan Africa. Retrieved March 19, 2025, from Don Bosco Tech Africa: Nairobi: DBTA Press. https://www.donboscotechafrica.org/reports

ECA. (2024, March). Youth unemployment in Africa: Challenges and opportunities*. Addis Ababa: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Retrieved March 23, 2025, from Economic Commission for Africa.: https://repository.uneca.org/handle/10855/50250.

DOI: 10.1177/0022002707302790

IIEP-UNESCO. (2024). Strengthening the Management Capacities of TVET Stakeholders*. Retrieved March 23, 2025, from IIEP-UNESCO Dakar: https://www.iiep.unesco.org/en/dakar

ILO. (2024). Global Employment Trends for Youth 2024: Sub-Saharan Africa. Retrieved March 23, 2025, from International Labour Organization. Geneva: https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/2024-08/Sub-Saharan%20Africa%20GET%20Youth%202024_0.pdf

Kaplan, S., & Magendzo, A. (2021). Entrepreneurs as Peacebuilders in Fragile States. Retrieved March 22, 2025, from Barcelona: Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT): https://ifit-transitions.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Entrepreneurs-as-Peacebuilders-in-Fragi

Khan, T. (2020). Young, Female and African: Barriers, Interventions and Opportunities for Female Youth Employment in Africa*. Retrieved March 23, 2025, from INCLUDE Platform.: https://includeplatform.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Khan-2020-Young-female-and-African-barri

Mkwanazi, N. (2024). Top 5 Challenges African Entrepreneurs Face Today*. Retrieved March 20, 2025, from Arielle for Africa: https://arielleforafrica.com/2024/08/06/top-5-challenges-african-entrepreneurs-face-today

Ndjama, J., & Van Der Westhuizen, J. (2024). Community-Based Entrepreneurship: Fostering Local Development and Social Cohesion. Retrieved March 20, 2025, from Vanderbijlpark: Vaal University of Technology. https://internationalbusinessconference.com/wp-content/uploa

Okoi, O. (2020). Entrepreneurship and Peace in Nigeria’s Oil Region*. Retrieved March 23, 2025, from Utah Valley University Global Engagement Report.: https://www.uvu.edu/global/docs/wim22/sdg16/sdg16-okoi.pdf.

Olopade, D. (2014). The Bright Continent: Breaking Rules & Making Change in Modern Africa. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers.

Onyeiwu, S. (2024). The Conversation: Addressing Skills Mismatch in Africa. Retrieved March 24, 2025, from https://theconversation.com/addressing-skills-mismatch-in-africa

Paradigm-Press. (2024). Education and Social Inequality in Africa: Gender, Poverty, and Employment. Retrieved March 20, 2025, from Paradigm Press: https://www.paradigmpress.org/rae/article/download/734/626

Redalyc. (2024). The Role of Education in Realising Youths' Human Capital. Retrieved March 23, 2025, from Mexico City: Autonomous University of Mexico State Press: https://www.redalyc.org/journal/3995/399562975022/html/

DOI: 10.21522/TIJMG.2015.02.01.Art021

Silverman, D. (2020). Qualitative Research. London: Sage Publications.

Sofoluwe, A., Shokunbi, M., Raimi, L., & Ajewole, T. (2013). Relationships among Human Capital Development and Employability. Retrieved March 23, 2025, from Lagos: International Journal of Economics Business Management Research Press.: https://www.ijebmr.com/upload

UNU-VIE. (2025). Barriers to Break: Challenges Facing Women Entrepreneurs in Africa. Retrieved Much 20, 2025, from United Nations University Research Report.: https://unu.edu/vie/news/barriers-break

Wilson-Center. (2024). Venture Peace: The Intersection of Entrepreneurship and Peacebuilding in West Africa. Retrieved March 20, 2025, from Wilson Center: Washington D.C.: https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/venture-peace-intersection-entrepreneurship-and-peacebui

Young-Africa. (2024). New Centre for Skills2Live in Lusaka. Retrieved March 20, 2025, from Young Africa: https://youngafrica.org/new-centre-for-skills2live-in-lusaka/

Young-Africa. (2024). Skills Builder Programme | Young Africa. Retrieved March 20, 2025, from Young Africa. Harare: https://youngafrica.org/empowering-african-youth-with-skills-for-a-brighter-future/

Young-Africa-Annual-Report. (n.d.). Enhancing Vocational Education Opportunities for Disadvantaged Youth. Retrieved March 20, 2025, from Harare: Young Africa Foundation.: https://youngafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/Young-Africa-Annual-Report-2023_signed.pdf.