Study of the Determinants of Youth Entrepreneurship in Sokoto State

Youth entrepreneurship is a key driver of employment creation and economic diversification in northern Nigeria, and understanding its determinants in Sokoto State provides evidence for youth economic empowerment policy in the North West zone. This study examined the determinants of youth entrepreneurship in Sokoto North, Wamakko, and Tambuwal Local Government Areas, Sokoto State. A survey of 300 youth aged 18 to 35 (150 entrepreneurs and 150 non-entrepreneurs) was conducted. Data covered educational attainment, access to start-up capital, entrepreneurship training, family business background, market knowledge, and social network access. Binary logistic regression was applied to identify determinants of entrepreneurship status. Results showed that access to start-up capital significantly increased the probability of entrepreneurship (OR = 4.3, p < 0.001). Entrepreneurship training increased the probability by 2.8 times. Family business background showed a modest but significant positive effect. Educational attainment had a positive but non-linear relationship, with secondary education having the largest marginal effect. Social network quality (measured by access to business mentors and peer entrepreneurs) was a significant positive predictor. Fear of failure was the most cited barrier among non-entrepreneurs (64.7 percent). The study concludes that capital access and training are the most actionable barriers to youth entrepreneurship in Sokoto State. Recommendations include state youth venture capital funds, entrepreneurship skills training in secondary schools, and business mentorship programmes through the Sokoto Chamber of Commerce. Keywords: youth entrepreneurship, determinants, Sokoto State, start-up capital, North West Nigeria