This study investigates the role of information and communication technology (ICT) development towards ending youth unemployment in the 48 sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries from 1991 to 2018. Using a dynamic panel modelling technique, the study employed the instrumental variable (IV) regression, within the framework of the system generalized method of moment (GMM-SYS) estimator. The results show that the low level of mobile phone subscriptions, broadband internet subscriptions, Wi-Fi internet subscriptions and internet bandwidth exert a significant negative effect on youth unemployment. This means that ICT development reduces youth unemployment in SSA. Also, it was found that the number of households with access to computers has a negative but insignificant effect on youth unemployment; this shows the ineffective role of household computers in reducing youth unemployment in SSA. Based on these findings, we recommend among other things that, for government to optimize the expanding youth population, there is the need for further telecommunication reforms to reduce the cost of mobile phone technologies and improved ultra-modern internet facilities in the region.

Rapid urbanization is on the increase especially in the developing countries and, the need for shaping sustainable cities continues to draw widespread recognition and has remained a major concern. Thus, urbanization and sustainable cities in Nigeria is examined using descriptive technique and came up with several lessons. Arable land is declining following fast increasing urban population growth. Arable land may not be capable of sustaining to meet the needs of the future generation, as the urban population continues to increase except appropriate policies are put in place to control it. Nitrous oxide emissions also rise at a faster rate, rising above the urban population growth. Such a trend means jeopardizing sustainable cities. Renewable energy consumption is falling while CO2 emissions are rising, which undermines sustainable city. Urbanization is fast increasing and cities are formed but the cities are not sustainable. We recommend infrastructural development in Peri-urban areas and rural areas. This will facilitate the urbanization process and city borders can be expanded and spread out to absorb neighbouring cities. In this way, urban population agglomerations will reduce and more arable land will be available. Also, the efficient use of renewable energy systems is recommended.

Health expenditure, child mortality and economic growth in Nigeria was examined using time series data covering the 1980 – 2020 sample periods. The Ordinary Least Square (OLS) technique was employed in analyzing the data. Empirical results showed a negative and insignificant impact of government health expenditure on under-five child mortality. It was also found that government capital expenditure had a negative and insignificant impact on under-five mortality, while government recurrent expenditure had a negative and significant impact on under-five mortality. Gross fixed capital formation had a positive and significant impact on under-five child mortality. It was also found that child mortality, government capital expenditure and domestic investment had a positive and significant impact on economic growth, while inflation had a negative and significant impact on economic growth. We recommend an increase in the yearly budgetary allocation to the health sector. However, the key to good outcomes is dependent not on the only mere increase in budgetary allocation but rather on implementing a public finance system that is good enough to extend and possibly link particular expenditure and revenue decisions and ensure appropriate usage of the allocated fund as transparently as possible.

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