Entrepreneurship and Economic Development: An Assessment of Youth-Owned Businesses in Maiduguri, Borno State

This study assesses the contribution of youth-owned entrepreneurial businesses to economic development in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State in Nigeria's North East geopolitical zone. Borno State has experienced significant socioeconomic disruption due to prolonged insurgency, and youth entrepreneurship is increasingly recognised as a vehicle for post-conflict economic recovery. This research employs a descriptive survey design, collecting data from 120 youth entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35 through structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Data were analysed using frequency tables, percentages, and descriptive statistics. The study examines the nature and scale of youth businesses, sources of startup capital, employment generation capacity, and perceived challenges to growth. Findings reveal that the majority of youth-owned businesses are micro-enterprises in the trade, food vending, and artisan sectors, with limited access to formal credit as the most cited obstacle to expansion. A significant proportion of respondents relied on family savings and informal cooperative contributions for startup capital. Despite structural limitations, youth-owned businesses collectively generate substantial local employment and contribute to household income stabilisation. The study recommends that government and development partners in Borno State strengthen youth entrepreneurship support systems through targeted microfinance products, business development services, and technology skills training. Keywords: entrepreneurship, economic development, youth businesses, Maiduguri, Borno State.