Digitalization and Rural Entrepreneurship: The Pathways to Youth Employment, Peace and Prosperity.

#2024UNCSC #SDG #WeCommit

Introduction.

The United Nations selected and approved the off-site workshop proposal submitted by the Youths Enterprise Development and Innovation Society (YEDIS) for 2024 UN Civil Society Conference in Nairobi Kenya from 9 – 10 May 2024.

YEDIS partnered with Truine Foundation to organize an off-site workshop titled, “Digitalization and Rural Entrepreneurship: The Pathways to Youth Employment, Peace and Prosperity.” The event took place along with the session of the Impact Coalition – Youth and Intergenerational: Collective Action for Youth, Adolescents and Older Generations on Friday, 10 May, from 10:45 am – 12.15 noon (Kenya time) in the UN office Conference Room – 1.

Workshop Description:

Building a sustainable tomorrow requires proactive youth engagement and the promotion of digital literacy skills and entrepreneurship education in vulnerable communities. A nation will achieve economic growth, peace, and prosperity by prioritizing meaningful employment for underserved youth. The workshop explores the challenges facing youth globally, addresses the barriers, compares various analytical approaches, and suggests strategic, innovative solutions to the digital divide and increasing youth unemployment. Digitalization and entrepreneurship education ensure a comprehensive understanding of creative ideas, innovative approaches, technology and skills development, and successful exploration of potential. Investing in young people today through entrepreneurship and digital technology skills means fostering inclusive and sustainable societies.

To deliver an intensive, collaborative, and productive workshop, the Youths Enterprise Development and Innovation Society (YEDIS) works with volunteers and professionals from academia, private organizations, nongovernmental organizations, youth groups, and community leaders. By exploring the opportunities and challenges associated with emerging technologies and empowering the youth to harness the potential of technology, the workshop shapes the entrepreneurship education policy and digital future toward a more inclusive and sustainable world.

Workshop Objectives:

To explore the concept of rural entrepreneurship and its impacts on marginalized communities’ economic growth.
To establish various employment barriers facing global youth and identify innovative solutions for future generations.
To equip the participants with the comprehensive skills required for gainful employment.
To address the challenges facing underserved youth entrepreneurs and the reasons for increasing unemployment rates in developing countries.
To identify and discuss feasible solutions to inequality and youth unemployment, explore rural youth innovative talents, promote decent jobs, and upgrade local resources for economic development.
To discuss a conducive workplace environment that fosters growth and belonging for all.

Recommendations:

1. Examining the feasible solutions to inequality and youth unemployment and promotion of rural youth innovative talents for industrialization and upgrade local resources for economic development.

2. By exploring the opportunities and challenges associated with entrepreneurship and emerging technologies and empowering the youth to harness technology’s potential for gainful employment and effective collaboration, the future generation will have a more inclusive and sustainable world.

3. Quality education must include digital literacy skills and an entrepreneurship ecosystem to explore innovation for global economic development and a sustainable future.

Workshop Speakers

Lead Speaker: Mr. Rafiu Akinpelu Olaore, Executive Director of Youths Enterprise Development and Innovation Society (YEDIS).
Engr. Jeremiah Akinsele, Executive Director, Truine Foundation.
Dr. Jacob Olusola Agboola, Management Consultant.
Miss Rafiat Akinwumi Olaore, Director at Ola Akin Investment Ltd and Co-founder of YEDIS.
Mr. Patrick Adeyemi Ilori, YEDIS Regional Coordinator, Europe.