Venturing under fire: entrepreneurship education, venture creation and poverty reduction in conflict-ridden Maiduguri, Nigeria

Purpose: This paper examines how a new entrepreneurship education intervention offered at conflict-ridden Maiduguri, Nigeria is having transformative impacts through new venture creation and poverty reduction. Design/methodology/approach: The paper adopts a single case study approach, drawing from in-depth interviews of participants, experts and facilitators of the entrepreneurship training, in addition to relevant memos and documents. Findings: The findings indicate that the entrepreneurship education programme is, by generating awareness and facilitating skill development, contributing to new venture creation, poverty reduction and positive change in mindset. However, the impact is limited by inadequate support through venture capital and limited facilities for business incubation. Limitations: This study is limited in its focus on entrepreneurship education provided for university undergraduates and graduates. Further research should explore interventions aimed at less educated youth in the region, and in other conflict contexts. Practical implications: The study suggests that entrepreneurship education facilitates youth empowerment through venture creation, in the process transforming them from aggrieved outsiders to active stakeholders in societal peace and national prosperity. Originality/value: The nascent theory of transformative entrepreneuring identifies poverty reduction and conflict resolution as the main mechanisms. This paper focuses on how entrepreneurship education triggers new venture creation, which in turn contributes to poverty reduction and overall change in mindset of otherwise unemployed and aggrieved youths.