Derisking Entrepreneurship for Africa’s Young Women: Accelerating Action through Higher Education

Africa’s booming youth population presents both an opportunity and a challenge. By 2050, the continent will be home to 2.5 billion young people, yet many remain locked out of economic opportunities. Nearly one in four African youth are Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET), with young women facing even steeper hurdles. The International Labour Organization (ILO) reports that 27% of young women are unemployed—compared to 16.9% of young men—forcing many into the informal economy, where growth prospects are limited. 

Entrepreneurship offers a way forward, but for too many young women, it remains a path of necessity rather than opportunity. The distinction matters: necessity entrepreneurs start businesses out of economic desperation, while opportunity entrepreneurs build ventures that create jobs, drive innovation, and generate wealth. Research underscores that higher education is a critical accelerator, equipping women with the skills, networks, and resources to succeed. 

With Accelerate Action as the theme for International Women’s Day 2025, there is no better time to push for urgent reforms that will enable young women to move from survival entrepreneurship to high-impact enterprise. Higher education institutions must take the lead in breaking systemic barriers and providing women with the tools to thrive.

1. Modernising Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Curricula

African women remain underrepresented in STEM fields, yet these sectors hold the key to the continent’s economic future. Universities must move beyond traditional entrepreneurship education and embed practical, tech-driven training that aligns with industry needs. 

Integrating artificial intelligence, data science, and emerging technologies into university curricula will empower young women to enter and lead in high-growth industries. This requires consultation with successful female entrepreneurs and industry leaders to ensure programmes reflect real-world demands. Without such reforms, women will remain confined to low-value sectors with minimal growth potential. 

2. University-Industry Collaborations

Access to capital is one of the greatest barriers to female entrepreneurship. Many women struggle to secure funding, not because their ideas lack potential, but because financial ecosystems remain male-dominated. Universities must step in by forming partnerships with investors, development agencies, and corporate stakeholders to create dedicated funding pipelines for female-led startups. 

As ESSA’s report, ‘What Next? Enhancing African Students’ Transition to Employment through Effective Career Services’ report highlights, these collaborations must go beyond financing. Career fairs, mentorship programmes, and structured internships will expose young women to industry leaders who can help transform their ideas into scalable businesses. 

3. Strengthening Career Services

Career services in African universities often focus on preparing graduates for traditional employment, sidelining entrepreneurship as a viable path. To accelerate women’s success, universities must rethink their approach. Career counselling should be tailored to identify entrepreneurial talent early, connecting young women with incubators, accelerators, and alumni networks that can help turn concepts into reality. 

This shift requires close collaboration between higher education institutions and industry stakeholders to create targeted interventions that develop entrepreneurial mindsets. 

4. Building Networks 

Entrepreneurship is rarely a solo journey. Women need access to networks that provide mentorship, market access, and peer support. Universities should facilitate fellowships, pitch competitions, and startup hubs where young women can connect with role models who have navigated similar challenges. 

By fostering these connections, universities will not only help women secure business opportunities but also challenge entrenched gender biases that limit their access to funding and market entry. 

The Call to Action 

Empowering women entrepreneurs is not a long-term aspiration—it is an immediate economic imperative. Higher education institutions must act now, reforming curricula, strengthening industry linkages, and creating pathways for women to transition from survival to success. 

On this International Women’s Day, let’s move beyond discussion and commit to accelerating action. When universities invest in female entrepreneurs, they are not just supporting individual success—they are fueling Africa’s next generation of innovators, job creators, and economic leaders. 

ESSA is committed to bridging the gap between education and employment by working with universities, employers, and policymakers to implement evidence-based solutions. Learn more about our work here.