Chapter one 

Introduction

1.1 Background to the study

Youth entrepreneurship has emerged as one of the most critical approaches used to tackle unemployment and instability in Nigeria. Given the fact that over 60% of the Nigerian population comprises individuals who are below the age of 30, there has been an urgent call for entrepreneurial systems to provide the necessary assistance to help create more business opportunities. One of the key players that have recently stepped into filling the gaps left behind by other youth empowerment programs run by the government include non-profit organizations and religious institutions.

The Jerry Eze Foundation is a corporate body that was created with the sole purpose of advancing the process of social transformation by ensuring economic empowerment through education and poverty alleviation programs (Jerry Eze Foundation, 2026). The Business Grant Programme of the Jerry Eze Foundation is aimed at providing support in terms of funds and mentoring to young entrepreneurs in fields such as agriculture, manufacturing, and technology (Jerry Eze Foundation, 2026).

It has been revealed that the foundation has broadened its scope by initiating structured funding programs to support youth-led enterprises and innovation-driven ventures in 2025 and 2026 (Jerry Eze Foundation, 2026). This involvement of the foundation in these programs is in line with the major national and continental strategies that aim at curbing youth unemployment through entrepreneurial support systems such as grants, training, and incubation support (Ogunleye & Adebayo, 2025).

1.2 Statement of the problem

While there have been more entrepreneurship grants emerging in Nigeria, the problem of youth unemployment still persists. Young people in Nigeria have some workable ideas that can be capitalized on but they lack access to startup capital, mentorship, and business training programs. Government schemes such as youth intervention and SME support schemes have been implemented but have failed due to delays and unavailability (Federal Youth Development Report, 2025).

The existence of private and faith-based business grants, including those from the Jerry Eze Foundation, brings up several questions regarding their impact on the entrepreneurial development of recipients. While such grants provide immediate financial help to the recipient, it needs to be determined whether or not they contribute towards business sustainability and job creation.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY       

1. Examine the effect that JEF grants have had on the development of youth enterprises.

2. Evaluate the success of mentoring programs included within the JEF grants.

3. Measure how much the foundation’s help contributes to employment opportunities and empowerment.

4. Analyze obstacles encountered by recipients when trying to use their grants efficiently.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research makes an important addition to the ongoing discussion of alternative financing methods for youth entrepreneurship in Nigeria. It sheds light on the role of faith-based philanthropic organizations in complementing government initiatives to combat unemployment. On top of that, it lays down a few policy pointers in order to enhance the planning and execution of entrepreneurship grant schemes

The latest documentation shows that, in 2025, entrepreneurship-centric interventions have been more and more aligned with funding plus capacity-building rather than pure funding (Nigerian Entrepreneurship Development Review, 2025). The Jerry Eze Foundation is in line with this philosophy, as it merges monetary assistance with mentorship and training for business growth (Jerry Eze Foundation, 2026).

1.7   SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This research will specifically examine the impact of entrepreneurship programs provided by the Jerry Eze Foundation on youths in Nigeria. The study is delimited during which period the Jerry Eze Foundation made major advancements with its entrepreneurship interventions program. The study is delimited to analyzing the outcomes of the development of entrepreneurship.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

This research bases its assumptions on the Human Capital Theory which holds that investing individuals through education, training and financial assistance is the main way to raising their productivity and economic output. Business venture grants work as a type of human capital investment giving young entrepreneurs the opportunity to get resources required for their business growth.

For the case of Nigeria where getting credit is still a big constraint, grant type support mechanisms such as those offered by the Jerry Eze Foundation are more and more being perceived as means for economic inclusion (Akinwale & Musa, 2025).