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Entrepreneurship As A Career Option For African Youths

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  • BEEM H. BEEKA

    (Centre for Individual and Organizational Management, Sheffield Hallam University, Howard Street, Sheffield, S1 1WB, UK)

  • MIKE RIMMINGTON

    (Centre for International Hospitality Management Research, Sheffield Hallam University, Howard Street, Sheffield, S1 1WB, UK)

Abstract

This paper presents findings from a pilot study of four African entrepreneurs new to established, all who started their business as young people. Their narratives, enhanced by the inclusion of significant events derived by the use of the critical incident technique, provide useful oral insights into their entrepreneurial heuristics and behavior. These reveal key influences and critical issues that affect the young African's decision to start a business and also perspectives into the nature of entrepreneurship in Africa. This paper concludes that the dichotomy between push and pull entrepreneurship is oversimplified, and social structures such as class, education and family background impact on ideas, opportunities, resources, skills and motivation. But most importantly, entrepreneurship can survive in an environment with many constraints, because career choices are influenced by the youth entrepreneur's perception, decision-making abilities and experiences. Implications are drawn for the development of young entrepreneurs in Africa.

Suggested Citation

  • Beem H. Beeka & Mike Rimmington, 2011. "Entrepreneurship As A Career Option For African Youths," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 16(01), pages 145-164.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:jdexxx:v:16:y:2011:i:01:n:s1084946711001707
    DOI: 10.1142/S1084946711001707
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Chigunta, F. J. & Schnurr, Jamie. & James-Wilson, David. & Torres, Veronica., 2005. "Being "real" about youth entrepreneurship in Eastern and Southern Africa : implications for adults, institutions and sector structures," ILO Working Papers 993786523402676, International Labour Organization.
    5. Elkan, Walter, 1988. "Entrepreneurs and Entrepreneurship in Africa," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 3(2), pages 171-188, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bode, Jürgen & Freitag, Christine (ed.), 2017. "Conference Proceedings 2016," Universities Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa Conference Proceedings, Universities Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa International Conference, volume 5, number 05, May.
    2. Girukwishaka, Gilbert, 2017. "Constraints analysis of start-up business in Burundi," Proceedings Paper, in: Bode, Jürgen & Freitag, Christine (ed.), Universities, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa - Conference Proceedings 2016, volume 5, pages 105-117, Universities Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa International Conference.
    3. Kajenthiran. K & Achchuthan. S & Ajanthan. A, 2017. "A Quest for Seeking Microcredit among Youth: Evidence from an Emerging Nation in South Asian Region," Advances in Management and Applied Economics, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 7(2), pages 1-8.
    4. Hilson, Gavin & Hilson, Abigail & Maconachie, Roy, 2018. "Opportunity or necessity? Conceptualizing entrepreneurship at African small-scale mines," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 286-302.
    5. Rosemond Boohene & Gloria Agyapong, 2017. "Examining activities in the E-waste Sector: Evidence from Two Metropolis in Ghana," Proceedings Paper, in: Bode, Jürgen & Freitag, Christine (ed.), Universities, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa - Conference Proceedings 2016, volume 5, pages 50-65, Universities Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa International Conference.
    6. Sylvester N. Ayambila, 2017. "Determinants of Non-Farm Micro and Small Enterprise Participation in Rural Ghana," Proceedings Paper, in: Bode, Jürgen & Freitag, Christine (ed.), Universities, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa - Conference Proceedings 2016, volume 5, pages 25-49, Universities Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa International Conference.
    7. Afriyie, Nina & Boohene, Rosemond, 2017. "Do the approaches to entrepreneurship education matter in start-up intentions?," Proceedings Paper, in: Bode, Jürgen & Freitag, Christine (ed.), Universities, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa - Conference Proceedings 2016, volume 5, pages 85-104, Universities Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa International Conference.
    8. Brautlacht, Regina & Agyapong, Daniel & Owino, Joseph & Rauhut, Nils, 2017. "Managing Intercultural Practice Oriented Student’s Projects: Evidence from Kenya, Germany, Ghana and the United States," Proceedings Paper, in: Bode, Jürgen & Freitag, Christine (ed.), Universities, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa - Conference Proceedings 2016, volume 5, pages 118-121, Universities Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa International Conference.
    9. Ambrock, Marc & Lawal, Kingsley, 2017. "Intercultural challenges: University – Business Partnerships," Proceedings Paper, in: Bode, Jürgen & Freitag, Christine (ed.), Universities, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa - Conference Proceedings 2016, volume 5, pages 79-84, Universities Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa International Conference.
    10. Ioana-Simona Ivasciuc & Ana Ispas, 2023. "Exploring the Motivations, Abilities and Opportunities of Young Entrepreneurs to Engage in Sustainable Tourism Business in the Mountain Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-28, January.
    11. Gabriel, Cle-Anne, 2016. "What is challenging renewable energy entrepreneurs in developing countries?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 362-371.
    12. Cuong Nguyen, 2018. "Demographic factors, family background and prior self-employment on entrepreneurial intention - Vietnamese business students are different: why?," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 8(1), pages 1-17, December.
    13. Christoph Schmidt, 2017. "Viability of alternative online news media in developing and transition countries," Proceedings Paper, in: Bode, Jürgen & Freitag, Christine (ed.), Universities, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa - Conference Proceedings 2016, volume 5, pages 66-78, Universities Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa International Conference.
    14. Darden, Bryan B. & Kellermanns, Franz W. & Best, Emma L., 2022. "Entrepreneurial fear of failure: Transgender versus cis-gender entrepreneurs," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 18(C).
    15. Chatterjee, Sheshadri & Chaudhuri, Ranjan & Vrontis, Demetris & Thrassou, Alkis, 2022. "SME entrepreneurship and digitalization – the potentialities and moderating role of demographic factors," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    16. Selomie Daniel & Elmar Steurer & Bernard Wagemann, 2017. "Productive use of renewable energy supporting applied entrepreneurship – Lessons learned from a development project in rural Ethiopia," Proceedings Paper, in: Bode, Jürgen & Freitag, Christine (ed.), Universities, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa - Conference Proceedings 2016, volume 5, pages 7-24, Universities Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa International Conference.
    17. Munyoki, Justus M. & Ndemo, Bitange, 2017. "Entrepreneurial Education, youth employability and economic development in Kenya," Proceedings Paper, in: Bode, Jürgen & Freitag, Christine (ed.), Universities, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa - Conference Proceedings 2016, volume 5, pages 122-145, Universities Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa International Conference.

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