{
  "id": 19255632,
  "title": "LEAP Africa calls for investment to scale youth-led enterprises",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/leap-africa-calls-for-investment-to-scale-youth-led-enterprises",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-10T01:04:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/leap-africa-calls-for-investment-to-scale-youth-led-enterprises/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "LEAP Africa has urged increased investment, improved policies, and enhanced collaboration between governments and the private sector to foster the expansion of youth-led enterprises in Africa, according to a report from the organization's Social Innovators Programme and Awards held in Lagos. With over 200 young social entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and business leaders in attendance, the event focused on overcoming structural barriers hindering the growth of innovative enterprises across the continent. Themed 'Africa as the Sector: Maximising Youth Agency for a Prosperous Africa – Leveraging Technology, Finance and Policy,' the gathering aimed to connect young entrepreneurs with investment, partnerships, and market opportunities.\n\nMrs. Kehinde Ayeni, LEAP Africa's Executive Director, highlighted the continent’s burgeoning youth population—projected to surpass 830 million by 2050—and emphasized the necessity for a conducive environment where young individuals can transform their ideas into thriving businesses, jobs, and long-term economic value. She questioned a prevailing narrative that largely focuses on the potential of Africa's young people rather than the economic contributions they are already generating, stating that young entrepreneurs are already creating businesses that address real market and development challenges.\n\nAyeni called for a shift in how stakeholders perceive youth entrepreneurship in Africa's economic development agenda, urging investors, policymakers, and business leaders to rethink their support for these enterprises. She stressed that these businesses should not be seen merely as beneficiaries of development interventions but as vital components capable of driving Africa's economic growth.\n\nDuring the event, Rosy Fynn, Mastercard Foundation's Country Director for Nigeria, underscored that economic prosperity hinges not just on the number of young people but on their ability to act. She stressed that financing solutions must be tailored to meet the specific needs of entrepreneurs, and that a tailored policy environment is crucial for the sustainable growth of businesses.\n\nClare Omatseye, Founder and Managing Director of JNC International and LEAP Africa Board Chair, echoed this sentiment, stressing that supporting social enterprises involves more than just providing seed funding. She highlighted the need for robust institutional structures, sustainable financing models, and policies that enable businesses to compete and expand. Omatseye emphasized that the future of Africa’s economy will depend significantly on building an environment where young people can create value, generate employment, and develop sustainable businesses. She stressed that this requires more than just funding individual ideas but demands stronger institutions, intentional partnerships, and policies that make innovation both commercially viable and socially impactful.",
  "summary": "LEAP Africa has called for increased investment and stronger policies to accelerate the growth of youth-led enterprises and unlock Africa’s economic potent Read More: https://punchng.com/leap-africa-calls-for-investment-to-scale-youth-led-enterprises/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "Moving beyond mere development aid toward structured investment and policy reform treats young entrepreneurs as essential economic drivers rather than just beneficiaries of social interventions.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}