Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Over the past decade, the relationship between digital skills acquisition and job creation of youth entrepreneurs has become a subject of considerable debate among scholars and industry practitioners alike, particularly within the context of Osun State where operating conditions differ markedly from more developed markets.

Osun State presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on digital skills acquisition, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with job creation of youth entrepreneurs, particularly within Osun State. Many organizations continue to make decisions about digital skills acquisition without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect job creation of youth entrepreneurs. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Digital Skills Acquisition on job creation of youth entrepreneurs in Osun State.
2. To assess the extent to which digital skills acquisition influences job creation of youth entrepreneurs within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with digital skills acquisition in relation to job creation of youth entrepreneurs.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing digital skills acquisition in order to improve job creation of youth entrepreneurs.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of digital skills acquisition on job creation of youth entrepreneurs in Osun State?
2. To what extent does digital skills acquisition influence job creation of youth entrepreneurs within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with digital skills acquisition in relation to job creation of youth entrepreneurs?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize digital skills acquisition in order to improve job creation of youth entrepreneurs?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around job creation of youth entrepreneurs. For managers and practitioners within Osun State, the study provides practical insight into how digital skills acquisition can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on entrepreneurship by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this study confines itself to Osun State, focusing specifically on how digital skills acquisition relates to job creation of youth entrepreneurs within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.