Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Youth Participation in Forest-Based Enterprises in Ibadan, Nigeria

This study examines the socioeconomic factors affecting youth participation in forest-based enterprises in Ibadan. The research is motivated by the persistent challenge of youth unemployment and the need to explore sustainable livelihood opportunities within the forestry sector. Specifically, the study analyzes the effects of access to finance, education, skills acquisition, unemployment status, and social networks on the level of youth participation using a binary logistic regression model. A cross-sectional research design was adopted, and primary data were collected from 247 youths selected through a multistage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were employed to achieve the study objectives. The results reveal that youth participation in forest-based enterprises is relatively low (44.1%), despite the sector’s significant potential for income generation and employment creation. The regression findings indicate that access to finance, education, skills acquisition, unemployment status, and social networks all have positive and statistically significant effects on youth participation. Notably, access to finance, skills acquisition, and social networks emerged as the most influential determinants. The study concludes that improving financial inclusion, enhancing vocational skills, and strengthening social capital are critical for increasing youth engagement in forest-based enterprises. The findings give emphasis to the relevance of the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework and Human Capital Theory in explaining participation dynamics. The study contributes to existing literature by providing empirical, location-specific evidence and offers practical insights for policymakers and development practitioners. Enhancing youth participation in forest-based enterprises has the potential to promote sustainable livelihoods, reduce unemployment, and support environmental conservation efforts.