Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
LEAP Africa has called on African governments, investors and private sector organisations to increase investment in youth-led enterprises and strengthen policies that support business growth, warning that limited access to finance, markets and institutional support continues to restrict the potential of young entrepreneurs across the continent.
The organisation made the call during the 13th edition of its Social Innovators Programme and Awards (SIPA), which brought together more than 200 young social entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and business leaders in Lagos, Nigeria.
Held under the theme, Africa as the Sector: Maximising Youth Agency for a Prosperous Africa – Leveraging Technology, Finance and Policy, the gathering focused on how technology, sustainable financing and supportive government policies can help young Africans transform innovative ideas into viable businesses capable of generating employment and addressing social challenges.
The discussions placed youth entrepreneurship at the centre of Africa’s development conversation, highlighting the need to move beyond celebrating young people’s potential towards creating practical opportunities that allow their businesses to survive, compete and expand.
LEAP Africa Calls for a New Approach to Youth Entrepreneurship
Speaking at the event, LEAP Africa Executive Director, Kehinde Ayeni, urged stakeholders to recognise young entrepreneurs as active contributors to economic development rather than treating them primarily as beneficiaries of development programmes.
Ayeni noted that young Africans are already establishing businesses and developing solutions to pressing economic and social challenges. However, their ability to expand remains heavily influenced by access to capital, market opportunities and policies that support enterprise development.
She emphasised that the conversation around youth entrepreneurship must shift towards recognising the economic value young people are creating and providing the support required to sustain their work.
According to her, investors, policymakers and business leaders need to reconsider how they support youth-led enterprises, particularly by treating them as businesses with the capacity to contribute to Africa’s economic growth.
The position reflects a wider challenge facing Africa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem: innovative ideas alone cannot guarantee business success without access to the resources, infrastructure and institutional support required to turn those ideas into sustainable enterprises.
Mastercard Foundation Highlights the Importance of Accessible Financing
Country Director for Nigeria at the Mastercard Foundation, Rosy Fynn, also highlighted the importance of designing financial support around the actual needs and circumstances of entrepreneurs.
Delivering the keynote address, Fynn argued that Africa’s prosperity would depend not simply on the size of its young population but on the opportunities available for young people to participate meaningfully in economic development.
She called for financing arrangements that reflect the realities of the people and businesses they are intended to support, noting that a uniform funding approach may not address the different challenges faced by entrepreneurs.
Fynn also stressed the importance of collaboration between stakeholders, arguing that governments, investors, development organisations and businesses must work together rather than operate independently.
Her intervention draws attention to a significant issue in Africa’s business environment: access to funding must be accompanied by financial arrangements that recognise the different stages, industries and operating conditions of youth-led enterprises.
For early-stage businesses, this may involve accessible startup financing, while growing enterprises may require larger investments, technical support and access to established markets.
Why Seed Funding Alone May Not Be Enough
LEAP Africa Board Chair and Founder and Managing Director of JNC International, Clare Omatseye, reinforced the argument that supporting social enterprises requires more than providing initial financial assistance.
Omatseye highlighted the importance of stronger institutional structures, sustainable financing models and policies that allow businesses to compete and expand.
She maintained that Africa’s economic future would depend partly on its ability to create an environment in which young entrepreneurs can generate value, provide employment and build sustainable businesses.
Her position highlights the distinction between helping an entrepreneur establish a business and creating the conditions necessary for that business to survive over the long term.
A young enterprise may receive startup funding but still struggle with operational costs, inadequate infrastructure, limited distribution networks, regulatory difficulties and an inability to attract further investment.
Without effective business structures and long-term financial planning, promising ventures can find it difficult to move beyond their initial stages.
This makes institutional support, mentorship, market access and business development services important components of a sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Africa’s Growing Youth Population Presents an Economic Opportunity
Africa’s demographic profile is an important part of the discussion surrounding youth entrepreneurship.
The continent’s youth population is projected to exceed 830 million by 2050, according to the projection highlighted at the LEAP Africa gathering.
This growing population presents both an opportunity and a major development challenge.
With millions of young people entering working age over the coming decades, African economies will need to create productive employment opportunities and strengthen the conditions that allow businesses to grow.
Youth-led enterprises could contribute to this process by developing solutions in sectors such as agriculture, technology, education, healthcare, renewable energy, manufacturing and financial services.
However, population growth does not automatically translate into economic prosperity.
The ability of African countries to benefit from their demographic potential will depend on education, skills development, infrastructure, access to finance, stable institutions and policies that encourage productive economic activity.
For this reason, the investment debate extends beyond supporting individual entrepreneurs. It also concerns the development of an environment where innovation can translate into employment, productivity and long-term economic value.
LEAP Africa’s Social Innovators Programme and Awards
The Social Innovators Programme and Awards is one of LEAP Africa’s initiatives aimed at supporting young social entrepreneurs and recognising innovative solutions to development challenges.
The programme provides opportunities for emerging social innovators to strengthen their enterprises through learning, mentorship, partnerships and engagement with relevant stakeholders.
According to information reported by THISDAY, the programme has directly supported more than 324 social entrepreneurs across over 15 African countries since its establishment in 2013.
The 2026 gathering also featured enterprise pitches, investor engagement sessions and awards recognising young innovators whose work addresses social and economic challenges.
LEAP Africa and its partners presented more than ₦2.5 million in prize awards to selected social innovators and enterprises.
Among the recognised participants were Gbenro Tolulope Theresa of the Corp Climate Literacy Program, who received the Seyi Bickersteth Award for Financial Accountability; Ibrahim Isah Liman of AgroChill Solutions, who won the Social Enterprise of the Year Award; and Bestman Lilian Amaka of Talent Spotlight Africa Foundation, who received the Innocent Chukwuma Award for Social Innovation in South-East Nigeria.
The recognition provided a platform for highlighting enterprises and individuals working to address development challenges through innovation and social impact.
Why the Investment Debate Matters for Africa
The call from LEAP Africa comes at a time when governments across the continent face increasing pressure to expand employment opportunities, strengthen private sector participation and improve economic productivity.
Small businesses and emerging enterprises can contribute to these objectives by creating jobs, introducing new products and services, supporting local supply chains and addressing gaps in essential services.
However, the potential contribution of youth-led enterprises depends on whether they can access the resources required to grow.
For investors, the opportunity lies in identifying commercially viable businesses with the capacity to generate sustainable returns while addressing important social and economic needs.
For governments, the challenge involves developing policies that reduce unnecessary barriers to enterprise development, improve access to infrastructure and create predictable business environments.
For development institutions and financial organisations, the priority is to design support programmes that respond to the realities of entrepreneurs rather than relying exclusively on short-term interventions.
There is also a need to improve connections between young businesses and established companies, since partnerships can provide access to distribution networks, technical expertise, supply chains and larger markets.
The broader implication is that Africa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem requires coordinated support rather than isolated funding initiatives.
What Happens Next?
LEAP Africa’s appeal places renewed attention on the responsibilities of governments, investors, financial institutions and private sector organisations in supporting young African entrepreneurs.
The discussions at SIPA 2026 underline the importance of connecting investment with effective policies, institutional development and access to markets.
However, the long-term impact of such initiatives will depend on whether commitments made during stakeholder engagements translate into practical opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Greater access to suitable financing, stronger business institutions, effective partnerships and supportive regulatory environments will be important in determining whether youth-led enterprises can move from small-scale operations to sustainable businesses with wider economic influence.
For Africa, the challenge is no longer simply recognising the creativity and potential of its young population. It is building the economic systems that allow young people to turn that potential into productive enterprises, meaningful employment and lasting development.
The message from LEAP Africa is clear: investing in young entrepreneurs is not merely a social intervention. It is also an investment in the continent’s economic future.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Punch Newspapers – Reporting on LEAP Africa’s call for investment and stronger policies to scale youth-led enterprises, November 10, 2026.
- THISDAY – LEAP Africa Calls for Stronger Policies, Investment to Scale Youth-Led Enterprises, November 3, 2026.
- LEAP Africa – Information on its Social Innovators Programme and youth entrepreneurship initiatives.
