Harnessing Digital Entrepreneurship for Youth Empowerment: Advancing Sustainable Economic Growth in Southeast Nigeria

Harnessing digital entrepreneurship for youth empowerment is not just a response to unemployment; it is a long term investment in economic sustainability. By bridging the digital skills gap, Nigeria can harness the full potential of its youth to drive inclusive growth and global competitiveness. This study focused on harnessing digital entrepreneurship skills for youth empowerment to advance sustainable economic growth in Southeast Nigeria. The specific objectives were to determine how digital entrepreneurship among the youths enhances economic sustainability, the government and private initiatives and interventions that can effectively empower youths in the digital space, and the challenges facing youths in leveraging digital entrepreneurship to enhance economic sustainability in South-East Nigeria. Cross-sectional survey design was adopted. While the exact figures for the population of South-East Nigerian youths are difficult to pinpoint without specific demographic data, a sample of 514 (271 male youths and 243 female youths) was random selection for the study. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the research questions while t-test was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 significance level and the aid of SPSS version 23. The study revealed how digital entrepreneurship skills among the youths enhance economic sustainability to include enabling youth to work from home and possibly increase their earnings, creating self-employment opportunities, and boost local content development in the region. Further findings revealed introducing programmes that provide subsidised devices and internet access, stablishing community tech hubs and innovation centres, and integrating digital skills classes into the school curriculums as government and private initiatives that can effectively empower youths in the digital space. The study concludes that empowering Nigerian youths with digital skills goes beyond mere technological proficiency, it represents a strategic economic initiative, and as a means to unlocking economic potential of a vibrant population in an increasingly digital world.