Drivers of Empowerment and Performance among Youth Agripreneurs in Jigawa State of Nigeria

Youth engagement in agribusiness is a strategic priority for addressing unemployment and ensuring food security in Nigeria. However, the persistence of high failure rates among youth-led enterprises suggests that conventional support models, predominantly focused on financial provision, are insufficient. Therefore, this study investigates the multidimensional drivers of empowerment and performance among youth agripreneurs in Jigawa State, Nigeria. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design, collecting data from 286 young agribusiness entrepreneurs selected through a multistage sampling technique. The survey was conducted in the year 2025, and it lasted for a period of three months (May-July). An easy-cost-route approach, a well-structured questionnaire complemented with an interview schedule, key informants, and a focus group discussion were the tools used for information synthesis. Furthermore, a structural equation model (SEM) was used to analyse the relationships within four theoretical frameworks: the Agripreneurship Empowerment Dimension Theory (AEDT), the Youth Agency Dimension Theory (YADT), the Youth Agripreneurship Performance Theory (YAPT), and the Agripreneurship Resource Construct (ARC). The results revealed that psychological empowerment and self-efficacy were the strongest and most significant predictors of empowerment, far surpassing the impact of economic factors, which were statistically insignificant. Political empowerment and autonomy also showed significant positive effects. Regarding performance, customer-oriented factors and social resources, such as networks and mentorship, were the most critical drivers, while financial resources alone showed no significant direct effect. The study concludes that empowerment and performance are intrinsically linked to intrinsic psychological assets and social capital rather than purely financial inputs. Consequently, it recommends a paradigm shift in policy and practice towards integrated interventions that prioritise mindset development, leadership training, political inclusion, and the strengthening of social networks to build resilient and empowered youth agripreneurs capable of transforming Jigawa State's agricultural landscape.