Employment Potentials, Innovation, and R & D Expenditure in Nigeria: Evidence from Indigenous Microenterprises

Abstract

: This study examined employment potentials of indigenous micro-enterprises in Nigeria as an alternative approach to tackling the menace of unemployment in Nigeria. Nigeria is a country with a relatively young population, with a median age of 18 years, which is lower than the African and global averages of 20 and 31 years respectively. A youthful population suggests a strong labor force; with the labor force population of around 70 million in 2020. Providing enough productive jobs for this young demographic (aged 15-29 years) and rising labor force is a challenge; more than 30 million young Nigerians were reported to be unemployed in 2021. As a result of this rapidly growing labor force, job creation is frequently on the top burners of policymakers and governments' development agendas. The dataset employed in the study is a secondary survey data exclusively from the TETFUND Report (2020). In order to achieve our objectives