AN ASSESSMENT ON THE IMPACT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT ON YOUTHS EMPOWERMENT IN CAMEROON

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Entrepreneurship has emerged as a critical catalyst for economic growth and development worldwide. Cameroon, located in Central Africa, boasts a diverse cultural heritage and abundant natural resources. However, in Cameroon, where a significant portion of the population comprises youths facing unemployment and underemployment challenges, entrepreneurship presents itself as a promising avenue for empowerment and socioeconomic advancement. However, despite its potential, the country faces various economic challenges, including high levels of youth unemployment and limited opportunities for economic advancement. In concceptual sense, the term entrepreneurship refers to the process of identifying opportunities, taking risks, and creating value through innovation and the establishment of new ventures or the improvement of existing ones (Hisrich, R.D., Peters, M.P., & Shepherd, D.A., 2017). It involves the willingness to pursue new ideas, organize resources, and undertake the challenges associated with starting and managing a business.

Furthermore, entrepreneurship in Cameroon has gained traction in recent years, with various initiatives aimed at fostering a culture of innovation and enterprise. Encouraging innovation and creativity among youths has become a central focus of governmental policies and initiatives. According to the African Union Youth Charter, everybody between the ages of 15 and 35 is considered a youth. This age group's high levels of socioeconomic uncertainty and vulnerability to not reaching their full potential make them in need of social, economic, and political support (Okoli, 2018). Helping young people overcome challenges that could keep them from realizing their potential is known as empowerment. Blanchard (2019) defined youth empowerment as an attitude, structural, and cultural process that gives young people the capacity, authority, and agency to make choices and bring about change in both their own and other people's lives. However, the current rate of job creation has not been sufficient to accommodate the growing working-age population. Additionally, the limited job opportunities within the public sector, which traditionally provided employment for many youths, underscore the necessity for a shift towards private sector-led growth and self-employment. Despite being a significant source of economic prosperity, the untapped potential of the youth remains largely underutilized (Emmanuel, 2019). The government, alongside non-governmental organizations and international partners, has implemented programs to promote entrepreneurship education, access to finance, and business development support. However, significant barriers persist, including bureaucratic hurdles, limited access to capital, and insufficient infrastructure.Therefore, a survey will be conducted in order to assess the impact of entrepreneurship development on youths empowerment in Cameroon

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Globally, the proportion of youths without jobs compared to adults has remained nearly unchanged in recent years, holding steady at 2.7 in 2013( O’Higgins,2018). This means that young individuals are still almost three times more likely to be unemployed than adults, and the ongoing rise in global unemployment disproportionately affects them. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2018, the worldwide employment-to-population ratio decreased by 1 percentage point between 2012 and 2019. The impact of youth unemployment on this decline in the employment-to-population ratio was particularly noticeable in the Developed Economies and European Union region, as well as in East Asia.

In Africa, youth unemployment presents intricate economic, social, and ethical policy challenges. Additionally, it's widely recognized that this issue is intertwined with the broader problem of unemployment and underemployment prevalent in nearly all African nations (Kanyenze, Mhonne, and Sparreboom, 2020). Furthermore, young people in Cameroon are confronted with significant challenges related to unemployment and underemployment. According to the latest national survey on employment and the informal sector, the expanded unemployment rate for individuals aged 15-35 is close to 13%, while underemployment levels reach as high as 71.9%. While many young Cameroonians heavily rely on securing jobs in the public sector or civil service. However, with the government's mounting debt, there's a lack of sufficient opportunities to accommodate all the youth seeking such employment (Evans and Leighton, 2019). Beyond civil service roles, the government offers start-up loans to youths, but these initiatives often suffer from politicization. However, recognizing the growing threat posed by youth unemployment and migration, the government has established specific ministries and programs to address the challenges faced by Cameroonian youths. Nevertheless, this indicates that the underlying issues contributing to the extent and scope of youth unemployment in Cameroon have yet to be adequately identified and resolved. Thus, it is in the light of these that the study seeks to assess the impact of entrepreneurship development on youths empowerment in Cameroon.

1.3  Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is  assess the impact of entrepreneurship development on youths empowerment in Cameroon. Specifically, the study will;

Determine whether there is a significant relationship between entrepreneurship development and youth empowerment in Cameroon.

Ascertain the contributions of entrepreneurial development on youth empowerment in Cameroon

Determine the factors influencing youths engagement in  entrepreneurial activities in Cameroon

Identify the factors affecting  entrepreneurial development in Cameroon

 1.4 Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

Is there a significant relationship between entrepreneurship development and youth empowerment in Cameroon?

What are the contributions of entrepreneurial development to youth empowerment in Cameroon?

What factors influence youths' engagement in entrepreneurial activities in Cameroon?

What are the factors affecting entrepreneurial development in Cameroon?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

Ho: There is no significant relationship between entrepreneurship development and youths empowerment in Cameroon.

Ha: There is a significant relationship between entrepreneurship development and youths empowerment in Cameroon.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The findings of the study will inform the development of policies and programs aimed at supporting entrepreneurship among young people in Cameroon. By being aware of the factors that lead to the development of successful entrepreneurship and youth empowerment, policymakers can design targeted interventions to support aspiring young entrepreneurs and foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. Furthermore, the study will identify ways to promote greater inclusivity and ensure that all young people have access to opportunities for economic and social advancement. Additionally, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regard to the impact of entrepreneurship development on youths empowerment in Cameroon.

1.6 Scope of the study

The scope of this study is to assess the impact of entrepreneurship development on youths empowerment in Cameroon. Empirically, this study will determine whether there is a significant relationship between entrepreneurship development and youth empowerment in Cameroon, ascertain the contributions of entrepreneurial development on youth empowerment in Cameroon, determine the factors influencing youths engagement in  entrepreneurial activities in Cameroon and identify the factors affecting  entrepreneurial development in Cameroon

Geographically, the study will be delimited to youths of Yaoundé, Cameroon.

1.7 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents. In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed. 

More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

 1.8 Definition of Terms

Entrepreneurship: refers to the process of identifying, creating, and pursuing opportunities to generate value through innovative ideas, products, or services.

Youth empowerment: means a process wherein young persons (particularly between the ages of 18 - 35) are urged to take control of their life.

Entrepreneurship development: adopting the definition of The African Development Bank Group, means the process of developing entrepreneurial knowledge and abilities through organized training and program-building initiatives.