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Paper short abstract:

In contrast to the dominant narrative of hopelessness among African urban youth, this paper argues that young informal entrepreneurs do not lack the capacity to aspire for a better future; rather, certain pressure points continue to hinder their aspirations from becoming a reality.

Paper long abstract:

Though Africa still grapples with a youth employment crisis and a shortage of decent jobs, several young people continue to create their own jobs by starting their businesses, oftentimes within the informal economy. Drawing on five months of qualitative fieldwork in Lagos, Nigeria with young informal entrepreneurs, this explorative research explains how everyday practices and pressures affect the trajectories of young informal entrepreneurs. What aspirations do young people hold around informal entrepreneurship, and to what extent are these aspirations attainable? In contrast to the dominant narrative of hopelessness among African urban youth, this paper argues that young informal entrepreneurs do not lack the capacity to aspire for a better future; rather, certain pressure points continue to hinder their aspirations from becoming a reality. The study reveals that young informal entrepreneurs have high personal and business aspirations unaffected by their current business environment. However, these young people lack concrete plans to navigate the structural and economic inequalities that often hinder their dreams. The study identifies some pressure points that limit the agency of young informal entrepreneurs, which include pressure due to social obligations, inadequate basic amenities, lack of capital, risk aversion, invisibility and isolation, and lack of proper execution plan for business expansion. Ultimately, this research draws attention to the complexities of the agency and aspirations of informal entrepreneurs in contexts of limiting structural conditions.