Youth Renewable Energy and Eco-Entreprenuership in Nigeria

YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA Authors: Osawe(Tearfund Ugoagwu(DECIDE Ben Osawe (Tearfund Nigeria), Plascid Ugoagwu (DECIDE METRICS LTD),Fwangmun LTD), Fwangmun Oscar Oscar Danladi,Ben Agaldo, Ulan Matta, Okafor, Justin Olajide, Abraham Nuhu,Nuhu, Jerrie Jerrie Pam,Shammah Daniel,Daniel, Ben Bala, Mathew Oleghe, Matta,Cioma Chioma Okafor, Justin Olajide, Abraham Pam,Shammah Ben Bala, Mathew Chikass Tangshak, ChristieChristie Pam, Sam Mwanmut, Emmanuel Kura, Joy Wazoh(Jos Green Oleghe, Chikas Tangshak, Pam, Sam Mwanmut, Emmanuel Kura, Joy Wazoh (JosCentre) Green Centre) and Chalya Dul

Design/Publishing: St. Stephens’ Integrated Ltd. Design/Publishing: St. Stephens’ Integrated Ltd.

Photographs: Photographs: Chalya Dul Chalya Dul

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This Research would not be complete without acknowledging the Lord's exceeding and abundant grace, which enabled us to deliver on target. We appreciate Naomi Foxwood of Tearfund's Global Advocacy Group for her tremendous counsel, inspiration, motivation and encouragement as she provided support at every step of the research. To the Country Representative of Tearfund Nigeria, Paul Mershak and the entire staff team, who not only believed in the power of youth movements to push for large-scale system change but also provided all the support needed to deliver this research. To Plascid Ugoagwu, Lead Consultant at DECIDE Metrics Limited, who carried out a robust analysis of the field questionnaires administered in the five geopolitical zones of Nigeria and also submitted a coherent report which formed the basis for this published work. Finally, to the youth of Jos Green Centre who have consistently sacrificed and made tremendous contributions in ideas to deliver on this work.

03 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

FOREWORD Tearfund carried out major revisions to its global corporate strategy through a process referred to as 'strategy Refresh'. In-order to refresh its strategy with a view to working with the 'poorest in the hardest places' in increasingly turbulent and fragile contexts, Tearfund drew extensively from several sources with a view to understanding the key megatrends that would shape nations going forward to 2025. Some of these key sources from which deductions were made that shaped programming are Tearfund's megatrends 2025, World Vision megatrend 2014, Africa Megatrends(African Development Bank 2013), Price Water Cooper, E&Y megatrends, Bond's megatrends 2015, US National Intelligence Council Megatrends(2013(www.dni.gov.2015), Global Risks perception Survey 2014(Global economic Forum). A major outcome of the revision relating to advocacy programming is the new emphasis on Economic and environmentally Sustainable Development (EESD) which is not only consistent with the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) and the Paris Climate agreement 2015 but also biblically grounded with restorative economy as the framework and movements as the vehicles for large scale system change. Tearfund Nigeria in interpreting and outworking the new global corporate Advocacy strategy decided to facilitate the process of youth movement building for large-scale system change in Nigeria around the restorative economy core themes of environmental sustainability, justice, inequality and poverty issues. This research seeks to latch on the innovativeness, inventiveness, creativity and energies of Nigeria's massive youth population in riding the crest of Eco-entrepreneurship to make a major contribution to addressing the crisis of high youth unemployment in Nigeria. In threading this path, Tearfund Nigeria hopes to build long-term power and agency through investing in youth, enabling them come to a place of power and influence to such a degree that they are able to negotiate within the public space as youth movements leading to large-scale system change in Nigeria. Paul Mershak Tearfund Nigeria Country Representative

04 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENT 2 FOREWORD 3 ACRONYMS 5 GLOSSARY

6

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.0

8

Background and Introduction 17

1.1 Main Purpose of Study 19 1.2 Specific objectives of the Study 19 1.3

Research Questions 19

1.4 Methodology 20 2.0 Data Presentation and Analysis of Data 20 2.1 Demographic Distribution 20 2.2 Analysis of Responses 21 2.3

Findings Deduced from the Overall Study 32

2.4 Recommendations 33 2.5 Conclusion 34 References 34

05 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

ACRONYMS RE: Renewable Energy NBS: Nigeria Bureau of Statistics UN: United Nations SDGs: Sustainable Development Goals

06 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

GLOSSARY TERMS Youth

Renewable Energy

MEANING This is best understood as a period of transition from the dependence of childhood to adulthood’s independence and awareness of our interdependence as members of a community. Youth is a more fluid category than a fixed agegroup. The UN, for statistical consistency across regions, defines ‘youth’, as those persons between the ages of 15 and 24 years. The African Youth Charter refers to youth as “every person between the ages of 15 and 35 years”. Nigeria’s Youth Policy defines a youth as one between 18 and 35 years of age.

The word renewable emanated from renew which implies “to give new strength to something”. Renewable Energy thus means: Energy that can be given new strength to. Renewable Energies derivable from the natural movements and environment such as: sunshine, wind, the heat of the earth, the movement of seas and rivers and the growth/movement of plants and animals. Renewable energy does not run out, ever. Other sources of energy are finite and will someday be depleted. Major non-renewable energy forms are the Fossil Fuels. These are the traditional sources of energy such as coal, oil and natural gas. Fossil Fuels are nonrenewable since they cannot be recycled. Once they are spent they cannot be recovered again. Renewable energy is sustainable indefinitely, unlike long-stored energy from fossil fuels. https://odinakadotnet.wordpress.com/.../harnessing -renewable-energy).

07 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

ECOENTREPRENEUR SHIP

“Eco-entrepreneurship sometimes referred to as “green entrepreneurship” (Schaper, 2002; Taylor & Walley, 2003), “ethical entrepreneurship” (Taylor & Walley, 2003), “enviropreneurship” (Keogh & Polonsky, 1998) and “environmental entrepreneurship” is a combination of two words ‘ecological (eco) and entrepreneurship which implies the creation of an innovative company that supplies environmentally friendly products and services i.e., “entrepreneurship through environmental lens” (Schaltegger, 2005). Eco-entrepreneurs enter these eco-friendly markets, not only to make profits, but also because they have strong, underlying, green values. They are the combination of strong environmental and social values with an energetic entrepreneurial attitude (Anderson, 1998; Gibbs, 2009). Volery (2002) defined ecopreneurship as environmental responsibility in entrepreneurship, while for Isaak (2002), it is an “existential form of business behavior. Ecopreneurship means entrepreneurial action that contributes to preserving the natural environment (Pastakia, 1998a; Schaper, 2005). Ecopreneurs are therefore entrepreneurs who found their businesses based on the principle of sustainability (Kirkwood and Walton, 2010). They are a new breed of eco-conscious change agents who are redefining the way business is conducted and are introducing ecofriendly ideas and innovations in the marketplace (Pastakia, 1998b)

08 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Background and Introduction 'Only a crisis, actual or perceived, produces real change. When that crisis occurs, the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around. Our basic function is to develop alternatives to existing policies, to keep them alive and available' -Milton Friedman Nigeria's population is estimated to be 188,660,253 as at Friday, November 11, 2016. A massive fifty percent (50%) of this population (94,330,126 million) are youth under 30 years of age, 40% of this (75,464,101million) are youth under 14 years. The graduate unemployment median age in Nigeria is 18 years. Nigeria's population is projected to be 233,557,000 in 2025 and 397million in 2050 making it the third most populous nation after “ There is no India and China). “Large cohorts of unemployed or passion to be underemployed young people destabilize their found playing societies, fuelling crime and creating conditions where small - in settling civil conflict becomes more likely,” (The British Council, Nigeria). Cracking the nut of High Youth for a life that is Unemployment in Nigeria has been a major challenge less than the one facing successive governments in Nigeria given the you are capable of search by youth for employment in traditional sectors living” of the economy like the public service. The rote pattern of learning in Nigeria has not enabled youth to - Nelson Mandela think creatively and imaginatively. This has led to the inability of the Nigerian youth to create jobs and thus raising the level of graduate unemployment to 47%1. Records from Nigeria Bureau of Statistics show that out of 26.6million million unemployed people in Nigeria, 17.6million are youths (Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, 2016)1. Renewable energy from sources ranging from biomass, solar, wind, tidal, and geothermal power, apart from being a clean alternative to fossil fuels is a rich unexplored minefield creating the space for the development of youth led renewable energy enterprises or eco-enterprises thus contributing to tackling the crisis of youth unemployment in Nigeria.

47%

09 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

This research which flows from a collaboration by Tearfund Nigeria and 'Jos Green Centre' (a youth driven initiative on eco-innovation, eco-entrepreneurship, social enterprise and advocacy on social issues) has been put together to engender conversations around the subject of renewable energy and to provide a bold alternative pathway for addressing the current national crisis of high youth unemployment in Nigeria.

Main Purpose of Study The purpose of this study is to determine the knowledge and level of awareness of youth on renewable energy and its huge potential for job creation and eco-entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Specific Objectives i. To assess the knowledge and level of awareness of Youth in the area of renewable energy in Nigeria. ii. Explore the capacities of youth in renewable energy and ecoentrepreneurship in Nigeria iii. Stimulate the interest of Nigerian Youth in renewable energy and ecoentrepreneurship iv. Proffer recommendations that will enable youth explore the opportunities offered by renewable energy and eco-entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Cross section of respondents from Jos-North Central Zone

10 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

Methodology This study was based on a cross-sectional design. Questionnaires were designed and administered in the North Central, North East, North West, South East and South West zones of Nigeria. One location (state) per zone was identified for data collection. Jos in Plateau State represented the North Central, Yola in Adamawa State represented the North East, Kaduna in the North West, Enugu in the South East and Ibadan in the South West. Respondents were sampled purposively in clusters of interest groups of youth. Data collated were entered and analysed. Categorical data were analysed descriptively using frequency distribution tables and charts. The qualitative data were summarized using content analysis. Deductions and inferences retrieved had some informed the overall findings and knowledge of renewable recommendations of the study.

45% energy

Findings Deduced from the Overall Study The level of awareness of youth about “Renewable Energy” and its place as a source of energy was not very impressive and regarded to be low. About 45.0% of youths who had some level of understanding of renewable energy consider it as a source of energy that can be transformed from one form to the other. Most respondents lacked a deeper knowledge of the classification of renewable energy as only a few youth were able to provide information on the different classification of renewable energy. There was an observed low level of awareness on the opportunities and potentials offered by renewable energy in Nigeria. The few (38.4%) who were aware of the opportunities of renewable energy highlighted water, sunlight, wind, plants, crude oil and coal as potential sources of renewable energy. Concerning the ways on how renewable energy can be applied in aware of opportunities of Nigeria; most respondents were not renewable energy informed on how Renewable energy can be applied or domesticated in Nigeria.

38.4%

11 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

The term “eco-entrepreneurship” was not very familiar among the youth or respondents sampled as only about 24.5% (39) of respondents claimed to be familiar with the term. It was also evident that most of the youth sampled were not

24.5% are familiar with the term ‘Ecoentrepreneurship

aware of the nexus between renewable energy and eco-entrepreneurship due to the poor level of awareness of the youth on the conversations around renewable energy. This was also the case pertaining the relationship between youth unemployment and eco-entrepreneurship. Only

few respondents were able to establish that there is indeed a relationship between both terms. About 7.0% of respondents were of the opinion that most youth are not well informed or enlightened about the opportunities available in our eco-system and so do not know how to go about becoming eco-entrepreneurs.

7%

of youth believe that most youth are not informed on renewable energy

12 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

It was established that the knowledge of the youth, their energies, innovations and creativity could be deployed to develop eco-entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Respondents suggested therefore that there is the need for the creation of supportive environment at the level of public policy and greater enlightenment and

45.9%

empowerment of the youth through funding and workshops

in

efforts

to

develop

eco-

identified the entrepreneurship in Nigeria. public sector as the major source of It was interesting to observe that a greater employment in Nigeria

number of the respondents do not know about the usual sources of employment for the youth in Nigeria. Out of the (45.9%) who were aware, identified the public sector as the major employer or source of employment in Nigeria.

One of the Youth trained by Jos Green Centre in the recycling plastic bottles into vases, bangles etc

13 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

Jos Green Centre youth, conducting training on recycling of Plastic bottles to vases, bangles etc.

14 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

Recommendations The following are three-layered recommendations for stimulating the interest of the youth and improving their capacities towards exploring gains and economic potentials of renewable energy in Nigeria: Public Sector: I. Develop an enabling and supportive policy environment that promotes youth innovations in renewable energy and eco-entrepreneurship. ii. Create designated fund to support the establishment of youth driven iii. iv.

v. vi.

renewable energy start-ups in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Support the establishment of youth-driven Climate Innovation hubs in Nigeria's six geopolitical zones. Create a capacity building and financing mechanism that supports the development of youth eco-entrepreneurs in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Support the hosting of youth-driven exhibitions and fairs show casing products from youth driven renewable energy enterprises. Integrate renewable energy and eco-entrepreneurship into the curriculum of schools enabling youth create green jobs rather than becoming dependent after graduation from school.

Civil Society i. Conduct enlightenment campaigns, workshops and seminars among youth on the potential benefits and sources of renewable energy and ecoentrepreneurship. ii. Engage the government of Nigeria at state and national-levels on the need to create opportunities for youth on renewable energy and ecoentrepreneurship. iii. Engage the Renewable Energy Project of the Federal Ministry of Environment with a view to developing programs that deliberately promote youthdriven renewable and eco-entrepreneurship projects Private Sector i. Create a private sector mentorship and study exchange-learning program for youth on renewable energy and eco-entrepreneurship. ii. Create a seed fund to support the development of eco-entrepreneurship among youth in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

15 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

Eco-innovation products made by Jos Green Centre on display at World Environment day 2016

16 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

Conclusion The current mood in the nation is that of a national consensus on the urgency to address the crisis of youth unemployment in Nigeria, this sense of urgency is driven by the understanding that it is essential that young people do not feel disenfranchised and threaten the social structure and safety of the Nigerian nation. Given the mass pool of the unemployed and graduates entering into the labour market annually coupled with projections that Nigeria would need to create 1.8million - 2million jobs annually, it is critical that the nation adopts radical alternative approaches to creating Jobs for the teeming army of unemployed youth in the nation. The promotion and adoption of youth led renewable energy enterprises is not only a bold alternative pathway for addressing the current national crisis of high youth unemployment in Nigeria but also a substantial contribution to poverty reduction and realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals2

Cross section of respondents from Kaduna, North West Zone

17 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

INTRODUCTION Nigeria's population is estimated to be 188,660,253 as at Friday, November 11, 2016. A massive fifty percent (50%) of this population (94,330,126 million) are youth under 30 years of age, 40% of this (75,464,101million) are youth under 14years. The median age in Nigeria is 18 years. Nigeria's population is projected to be 233,557,000 in 2025 and 397million in 2050 making it the third most populous nation after India and China). This massive youth population can be a strategic demographic category for large scale system change. The power of this massive demographic category can also be a force that threatens social cohesion and stability if not appropriately deployed for large scale system change in the nation. Nigeria's educational system is rote based. The rote learning graduate approach does not enable youth to think creatively and unemployment imaginatively with the result that on graduation from school, youth look to traditional sources of employment in the civil service rather than having the skills and capacity to innovate and create Jobs. Once not employed Youth suffer extreme forms of poverty, lose self-confidence and voice, and become excluded from economic, political and development processes. “Large cohorts of unemployed or underemployed young people destabilize their societies, fuelling crime and creating conditions where civil conflict becomes more likely,”(The British Council, Nigeria). Cracking the nut of high youth unemployment in Nigeria has been a major challenge facing successive governments in Nigeria given the search by youth for employment in traditional sectors of the economy like the public service rather than create jobs thus raising the level of graduate unemployment to 47%1. Records from Nigeria Bureau of Statistics show that out of 26.6million unemployed people in Nigeria, 17.6million are youths (Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, 2016)1. Renewable energy from sources ranging from biomass, solar, wind, tidal, and geothermal power, apart from being a clean alternative to fossil fuels, is a rich unexplored minefield creating the space for the development of youth led renewable energy enterprises or eco-enterprises thus contributing to tackling the crisis of youth unemployment in Nigeria.

47%

This research which flows from a collaboration by Tearfund Nigeria and 'Jos Green Centre' (a youth driven initiative on eco-innovation, eco-entrepreneurship, social enterprise and advocacy on social issues) has been put together to engender conversation around the subject of renewables and to provide a bold alternative

18 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

Cross section of respondents in Enugu, South East Zone

19 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

pathway for addressing the current national crisis of high youth unemployment in Nigeria. 1.1: Main Purpose of Study The purpose of this study is to determine the knowledge and awareness level of youth in renewable energy and its huge potential for job creation and ecoentrepreneurship in Nigeria. 1.2 Specific Objectives i. Assess the knowledge and level of awareness of Youth in Nigeria in the area of renewable energy ii. Explore the capacities of youth in renewable energy and ecoentrepreneurship in Nigeria iii. Stimulate the interest of Nigerian Youth in renewable energy and eco-entrepreneurship iv. Proffer recommendations that will enable youth explore the opportunities offered by renewable energy and eco-entrepreneurship in Nigeria. 1.3 Research Questions i. What is the level of awareness of Nigerian youth pertaining to renewable energy? ii. What is the current capacity of youth in renewable energy and eco-entrepreneurship in Nigeria? iii. How can the interest of Nigerian youth on renewable energy and eco-entrepreneurship be stimulated? iv. What possible recommendations could help engage the youth in exploiting the opportunities offered by renewable energy and ecoentrepreneurship?

“The who

People are

crazy enough to change the world are the ones who do” -Albert Einstein

20 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

Methodology This study was based on a cross-sectional design. Questionnaires were designed and administered in the North Central, North East, North West, South East and South West zones of Nigeria. One location (state) per zone was identified for data collection. Jos in Plateau State represented the North Central, Yola in Adamawa State represented the North East, Kaduna in the North West, Enugu in the South East and Ibadan in the South West. Respondents were sampled purposively in cluster interest groups of youths. Data collated were youth entered and analysed. Categorical data were responded to the questionnaires out analysed descriptively using frequency distribution of 250 administered tables and charts. The qualitative data were summarized using content analysis. Deductions and inferences retrieved informed the overall finding and recommendations of the study.

159

2.0 Data Presentation and Analysis of Data 2.1 Demographic Distribution This study was carried out on sampled youth as respondents in the five geopolitical zones in Nigeria namely, North Central which constitutes 10.7% (17) of responses, 28.3% (45) were from the North East, 23.3% (37) from the North West. The South East constituted 18.2% (29) and 19.5% (31) were from the South West as reflected on Table 1.0 and Figure 1.0 below. Table 1.0: Distribution of Respondents by Geopolitical Zone Geopolitical zone

Frequency

Percent

Cumulative Percent

North Central

17

10.7

10.7

North East

45

28.3

39.0

North West

37

23.3

62.3

South East

29

18.2

80.5

South West

31

19.5

100.0

159

100.0

Total

21 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

Figure 1.0: Distribution of Respondents by Geopolitical Zone

63%

of youth are informed of what renewable energy means

37%

of youth are not informed of what renewable energy means Response

2.2 Analysis of Responses On table 1.1 and Figure 1.1, the knowledge of the respondents on the meaning or definition of Renewable Energy was examined. Majority of the respondents claimed to be informed on what renewable energy means. This was as 63% (100) of the sampled respondents indicated “Yes” as against 37% (59) who said that they had no idea. There were various definitions of Renewable Energy from respondents based on their perception.

Table 1.1: Distribution of Respondents on What Renewable Energy is

Frequency

Percent

Cumulative Percent

No

59

37.1

37.1

Yes

100

62.9

100.0

Total

159

100.0

22 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

Figure 1.1: Table 1.1: Distribution of Respondents on What Renewable Energy is

45%

respondents indicated that renewable energy are from natural resources and cannot be exhausted

These definitions included those that perceived renewable energy as energy that cannot be depleted. A cross-section of respondents (45.0%) indicated that it is energy from natural sources, which cannot be exhausted or primary source. Respondents identified them as the sun, wind and water. Most respondents understood renewable energy as an energy that can be transformed from one form to the other, renewed or recycled.

Table 1.2: Knowledge on the different Classifications of Renewable Energy

Response

Frequency

Percent

Cumulative Percent

No

111

69.8

69.8

Yes

48

30.2

100.0

159

100.0

Total

23 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

Figure 1.2: Knowledge of Respondents on the different Classifications of Renewable Energy

69.8%

did not know the classifications of renewable energy

30.2%

knew the classifications of renewable energy

Table 1.2 and Figure 1.2 examined the level of awareness of the respondent on the different classifications of renewable energy. Out of 159 respondents, 69.8 % (111) of the respondent said that they do not have further idea of the different classifications of renewable energy while 30.2 %(48) of respondents claimed to know. It can be observed that most respondents lack a deeper knowledge on the classification of renewable energy. Among respondents that indicated identified biotic and non-biotic, primary and secondary, infinite and infinite, dry and wet, natural and human. Other types as narrated were: i. Natural and Chemical ii. Solar (sunlight) iii. Water (Hydro) iv. Coal

v. Fusel fuel Table 1.3: Respondents awareness on whether there are Renewable Energy Potentials in Nigeria or not Response Frequency Percent Cumulative Percent No

98

61.6

61.6

Yes

61

38.4

100.0

159

100.0

Total

24 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

Figure 1.3: Respondents awareness on existence of Renewable Energy Potentials in Nigeria or not

61.6% did not know the potentials of renewable energy

38.4% knew the potentials of renewable energy

The level of awareness of the respondents on the potentials of renewable energy in Nigerian was analysed on Table 1.3 and Figure 1.3 respectively. Out of 159 respondents, 61.6% (98) indicated not being aware of the potentials of renewable energy in Nigeria while only 38.4% (61) said they were aware of the potentials of renewable energy. The above distribution reveals a poor level of awareness of the opportunities or potentials that renewable energy offers in Nigeria. The respondents (38.4%) who were aware of the opportunities of renewable energy highlighted water, sunlight, wind, plants, crude oil and coal as potential sources of renewable energy.

Table 1.4: Distribution of Responses on knowledge of how Renewable Energy can be applied or Domesticated in Nigeria

Response

Frequency

Percent

Cumulative Percent

No

91

57.2

57.2

Yes

68

42.8

100.0

159

100.0

Total

25 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

Figure 1.4: Distribution of Responses on knowledge of how Renewable Energy can be applied or domesticated in Nigeria

57.2% had no clue on how renewable energy can be applied

43.8%

knew how renewable energy can be applied

The above distribution of responses on Table 1.4 and Figure 1.4 determined whether respondents knew how renewable energy could be applicable in Nigeria. Out of the 159 respondents, 57.2% (91) of the respondents had no clue on how renewable energy can be applied while 42.8% (68) claimed to know how this energy can be domesticated in Nigeria. It was necessary to probe into those specific ways renewable energy can be applied. A cross-section of respondents (42.0%) mentioned that solar systems, wind, sugarcane and biotic fuels could be a viable source of generating electricity. They also mentioned the use of crude oil in generating thermal energy. Based on the above distribution; there is need for more enlightenment and awareness to be created among the nation's massive youth population on viable ways renewable energy can be applied to support the development of eco-entrepreneurship and youth led renewable energy enterprises.

Table 1.5: Distribution of Respondents (Youths) Conversant with or Ever Heard of the Word Eco-Entrepreneurship

Response

Frequency

Percent

Cumulative Percent

No

120

75.5

75.5

Yes

39

24.5

100.0

159

100.0

Total

26 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

Figure 1.5: Distribution of Respondents (Youths) Conversant with or Ever Heard of the Word Eco-Entrepreneurship Table 1.5 and Figure 1.5 above, reflect the proportion of respondents who were ever familiar with the word “ecoentrepreneurship”. It can be observed that 75.5% (120) of the respondents were not familiar with the term “ecoentrepreneurship” while 24.5% (39) claimed to be familiar with were not familiar the terminology. To confirm the above assertions, they were with the term ‘ecofurther asked to provide definitions on what the term “ecoentrepreneurship’ entrepreneurship” means. After further investigation, it was discovered that only a few number of those who answered “Yes” actually had an idea what the eco-entrepreneurship really meant. The following were the varied definitions provided by those who claimed to have an idea.

75.5%

i.

Eco-entrepreneurship is using what is available in the environment to create wealth. ii. Eco-entrepreneurship is the creation and transaction in environmentally friendly products and promoting the ecowere familiar with friendly projects. the term ‘ecoentrepreneurship’ iii. Making wealth from the environment without affecting the environment negatively. iv. Eco-entrepreneurship has to do with wealth creation and ecological friendliness, creation of wealth and taking cognizance of environment.

24.5%

27 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

Given the above pool of distribution, there is a clear need to create opportunities that improve on the level of youth awareness with regards ecoentrepreneurship in Nigeria. Table 1.6: Distribution of Respondents on knowledge of an Existing Relationship between Renewable Energy and Eco-Entrepreneurship

Response

Frequency

Percent

Cumulative Percent

No

126

79.2

79.2

Yes

33

20.8

100.0

159

100.0

Total

Figure 1.6: Distribution of Respondents on knowledge of an

79.2% were not familiar with the relationship between renewable energy and ‘ecoentrepreneurship’

20.8% were familiar with the relationship between renewable energy and ‘ecoentrepreneurship’

Existing Relationship between Renewable Energy and EcoEntrepreneurship

The analysis on Table 1.6 andFigure 1.6 was meant to establish if there is an existing relationship between renewable energy and eco-entrepreneurship based on the distribution of responses. Out of 159 respondents sampled, 79.2% (126) claim not to know of any relationship between renewable energy and eco-entrepreneurship. While 20.8% (33) of respondents opined that, there is a connection between renewable energy and ecoentrepreneurship. It was evident that most of the youth sampled were not aware of the nexus between renewable energy and eco-entrepreneurship due to the poor level of awareness of the youth with regards to conversations around renewable energy in Nigeria.

28 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

Table 1.7: Distribution of Respondents by ability to make any Connection between Youth Unemployment and Eco-entrepreneurship?

Response

Frequency

Percent

Cumulative Percent

No

99

62.3

62.3

Yes

60

37.7

100.0

159

100.0

Total

62.3% were not familiar with the relationship between youth unemployment and ‘ecoentrepreneurship’

Figure 1.7: Distribution of Respondents by ability to make any Connection between Youth Unemployment and Eco-entrepreneurship. Table 1.7 and Figure1.7 show the ability of the respondents to make a connection between youth unemployment and eco-entrepreneurship. 62.3% (99) could not establish that there exist any relationship between youth unemployment and eco-

37.7% were familiar with the relationship between unemployment and ‘ecoentrepreneurship’

entrepreneurship while 37.7% (60) of respondents on the other hand were able to establish the fact that there is a relationship between youth unemployment and ecoentrepreneurship. On further interviews with respondents, a cross-section of respondents expressed this connection on the fact that renewable energy creates business opportunity that translates into job creation thereby tackling the issue of unemployment amongst the youth. They further said that jobs or wealth could be created by adding value to the environment. This was a major opinion of most

7%

of respondents were of the opinion that youth are not well informed on renewable energy

respondents who believed that there is a link between youth unemployment and renewable energy. About 7.0% of these respondents were of the opinion that most youth are not well informed of the opportunities available in our eco-system and so do not know how to go about becoming eco-entrepreneurs.

29 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA Table 1.8: Distribution of Respondents by Knowledge of Opportunities that exist for Youth Led Eco-Entrepreneurship in Nigeria

Response

Frequency

Percent

Cumulative Percent

No

78

49.1

49.1

Yes

81

50.9

100.0

159

100.0

Total

50.9%

knew that there are existing opportunities for youth led ‘ecoentrepreneurship’

49.1%

said there is no existence of youth led entrepreneurship opportunities in Nigeria

Figure 1.8: Distribution of Respondents by Knowledge of Opportunities that exist for Youth Led Eco-Entrepreneurship in Nigeria

It was interesting to observe on table 1.8 that 50.9% (81) of respondents know that there are numerous existing opportunities for youth led ecoentrepreneurship while 49.4% (78) responded negatively that there is no existence of youth led entrepreneurship opportunities in Nigeria. Going by the percentage of those who said “yes”, it could be confidently said that are huge opportunities for the creation of youth led eco-enterprises in Nigeria and thus eco-entrepreneurship should be explored to increase wealth and job opportunities. Table 1.9: Can Youth Knowledge, Energies, Innovations and Creativity be Deployed to Develop Eco-entrepreneurship in Nigeria

Response

Frequency

Percent

Cumulative Percent

No

67

42.1

42.1

Yes

92

57.9

100.0

159

100.0

Total

30 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

57.9%

agreed with the assertion that youth energies, innovations and creativity can be deployed for developing ‘ecoentrepreneurship’

42.1%

disagreed with the assertion that youth energies, innovations and creativity can be deployed for developing ‘ecoentrepreneurship’

Figure 1.9: Distribution of Respondents by opinion on how Youth Knowledge, Energies, Innovations and Creativity could be deployed to Develop Eco-entrepreneurship in Nigeria

It was examined on table 1.9 and figure 1.9 if youth's knowledge, energies, innovations and creativity can be deployed in developing eco-entrepreneurship in Nigeria. 57.9% (92) of respondent agreed with the above assertion while 42.1% (67) disagreed. It can be observed that the knowledge of the youth, their energies, innovations and creativity can be deployed to develop and promote eco-entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Respondents further suggested that youth should be engaged in decision making and creating small innovations geared towards problem solving. A cross-section of respondents further suggested the need for greater enlightenment and empowerment of youth through funding and workshops in the area of renewable energy and eco-entrepreneurship.

Table 1.10: Distribution of Respondents by Knowledge of Traditional (Usual) Sources for Employment of Youth in Nigeria

Response

Frequency

Percent

Don't know

86

54.1

54.1

Have an idea

73

45.9

100.0

159

100.0

Total

Cumulative Percent

31 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

54.1% indicated that they had no idea about sources of employment in Nigeria.

Figure 1.10: Distribution of Respondents byKnowledge of Traditional (Usual) Sources for Employment of Youth in Nigeria Table 1.10 and Figure 1.10 show the level of respondents’ awareness of the traditional source of employment of youth in Nigeria. It was amazing to discover from the above analysis that a great number of the respondents actually do not know about the usual sources of employment for the youths in Nigeria. 54.1% (86) of the respondents indicated not to have an idea.

Figure 1.11: Sources of Youth Employment

32 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

55.6% identified the public sector as source of youth employment in Nigeria

24.4% identified the private sector as the major source of employment

45 out of the 73 respondents that claimed to have an idea on the traditional sources of youth employment as reflected on Table 1.10 presented further details on the different sources of youth employment. 55.6%(25) of respondents identified the public sector, 20.0%(9) pointed at the self-employment sources, and 24.4% (11) identified the private sector as a source of youth employment. It can be inferred from the above distribution that the major employer or source of youth employment is the public sector. 2.3

Findings Deduced from the Overall Study The awareness of youth pertaining to the terminology

'renewable energy' and its place as a source of energy was not

20.0% identified selfemployment as source of youth employment in Nigeria

very impressive and regarded to be low. About 45.0% of youth had some level of understanding of renewable energy as a source of energy that can be transformed from one form to the other. Most respondents lack a deeper knowledge of the classification of renewable energy as only a few

45.0% had some knowledge of renewable energy

youth were able to provide information on the different classification of renewable energy. There was an observed poor level of awareness on the opportunities and potentials offered by renewable energy in

38.4% aware of opportunities of renewable energy

Nigeria. The respondents (38.4%) who were aware of the opportunities of renewable energy highlighted water, sunlight, wind, plants, crude oil and coal as potential sources of renewable energy. Concerning the ways on how renewable energy can be applied in Nigeria; most respondents are not

24.5%

were familiar with the term ‘eco-entrepreneurship’

informed on how RE can be applied or domesticated in Nigeria. The term “eco-entrepreneurship” was not very familiar among the youth as only about 24.5% (39) of

33 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

respondents claimed to be familiar with the term. It was also evident that most of the youth sampled were not aware of the nexus between renewable energy and eco-entrepreneurship due to the poor level of awareness of the youths on conversations around renewable energy in Nigeria. This was also the case pertaining the relationship between youth unemployment and eco-entrepreneurship. Only few respondents were able to establish that there is indeed a relationship between both terms. About 7.0% of respondents were of the opinion that most youths are not well informed or enlightened on the opportunities available in our ecosystem and so do not know how to go about becoming ecoentrepreneurs. It was further established that the knowledge of the youth, their energies, innovations and creativity could be deployed to Develop eco-entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Respondents suggested therefore that there is the need for the creation of supportive environment at the level of public policy and greater enlightenment and empowerment of the youth of youth believe through funding and workshops on renewable energy in that most youth efforts to develop eco-entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

7%

are not informed on renewable energy

It was interesting to observe that a greater number of the respondents do not know about the usual sources of employment for the youth in Nigeria. Out of those (45.9%) who were aware, identified the public sector as the major employer or source of employment in Nigeria.

2.4 Recommendations The following are three-layered recommendations categorized into (Public Sector, Civil Society and Private Sector) for stimulating the interest of the youth population and improving their capacities towards exploring gains and economic potentials of renewable energy in Nigeria:

Public Sector: i. Develop an enabling and supportive policy environment that promotes youth innovations in renewable energy and eco-entrepreneurship. ii. Create designated fund to support the establishment of youth driven renewable energy start-ups in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. iii. Support the establishment of youth-driven Climate Innovation hubs in Nigeria's six geopolitical zones. iv. Create a capacity building and financing mechanism that supports the development of youth eco-entrepreneurs in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

34 YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

v. Support the hosting of youth-driven exhibitions and fairs, show casing products from youth-driven renewable energy enterprises. vi. Integrate renewable energy and eco-entrepreneurship into the curriculum of schools enabling youth create green jobs rather than becoming dependent after graduation from school.

Civil Society i. Conduct enlightenment campaigns, workshops and seminars among youth on the potential benefits and sources of renewable energy and ecoentrepreneurship. ii. Engage the government of Nigeria at state and national levels on the need to create opportunities for youth on renewable energy and ecoentrepreneurship. iii. Engage the Renewable Energy Project of the Federal Ministry of Environment with a view to developing programs that deliberately promote youth driven renewable and eco-entrepreneurship projects

Private Sector i. Create a private sector mentorship and study exchange-learning program for youth on renewable energy and eco-entrepreneurship. ii. Create a seed fund to support the development of eco-entrepreneurship among youth in the sSix geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

Conclusion The current mood in the nation is that of a national consensus on the urgency to address the crisis of youth unemployment in Nigeria, this sense of urgency is driven by the understanding that it is essential that young people do not feel disenfranchised and threaten the social structure and safety of the Nigerian nation. Given the mass pool of the unemployed and graduates entering into the labour market annually coupled with projections that Nigeria would need to create 1.8million - 2million jobs annually, it is critical that the nation adopts radical alternative approaches to creating Jobs for the teeming army of unemployed youth in the nation. The promotion and adoption of youth led renewable energy enterprises is not only a bold alternative pathway for addressing the current national crisis of high youth unemployment in Nigeria but also a substantial contribution to 2 poverty reduction and realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals

References 1. Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Report 2. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org, UN-DESA/DSD on 1 Nov 2014

YOUTH, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

GALLERY OF PRODUCTS MADE IN NIGERIA FROM WASTE, PLASTICS, FLEX BANNERS, PAPERS, ETC.