DIGITAL SKILLS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL APTITUDE AMONGST YOUTHS IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA: THE CHALLENGES OF SOCIO-POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT

Digital skills are techniques meant to manipulate digital devices, such as the communication networks, online platforms, and modern technological tools effectively in everyday life, work, and learning which range from basic computer literacy to advanced technical competencies, while entrepreneurial aptitudes are the abilities, knowledge, and personal attributes that enable an individual to identify opportunities, create innovative solutions, start or manage a business, and sustain it successfully. It is on this basis that this study is poised to investigate into how socio-political environment impacts the functionality of society, decisions, individuals, groups, and how institutions interact. The ex-post-facto research design was adopted as a theoretical approach in explaining the validity of the study research data, while the respondents were purposively selected. Both primary and secondary sources of data were utilized in the review of theoretical and empirical literature relevant to the study. The study adopted Thomas Cochran’s sociological theory of entrepreneurship as a theoretical framework of analysis. The findings clearly indicated that the digital skills are precursors of development of the entrepreneurial aptitude amongst youths, but dependent on the socio-political environment which promote or impede the development of digital skills among youths. The major implication of the findings is that digital skills are critical factors that drive entrepreneurial aptitude among youths, but are dependent upon the cordiality or otherwise of the socio-political environment. The study therefore, recommends among others, that the government of Abia State should implement a structured mentorship programme that significantly improves digital literacy among youths especially those at the rural areas, emphasizing practical digital skills, community tech hubs, and mentorship as effective strategies for inclusive empowerment and entrepreneurship readiness, the government of Abia State should ensure that societal-level barriers such as poor government policies, hostile legal frameworks, limited institutional support, and weak policy environments that significantly impede youth entrepreneurial aptitude and development be rejigged and looked into for a better youth participation.