Gender-specific leadership programmes for youth entrepreneurs have become increasingly popular in Nigerian urban markets as a means to empower and support young women and men in their entrepreneurial ventures. This comparative study employed mixed-methods research including surveys, focus group discussions, and qualitative interviews with participants from three different gender-specific leadership programmes in Nigeria. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis to interpret findings. During the three-year period, there was a notable increase of 25% in entrepreneurial ventures among female programme participants compared to their male counterparts, indicating a significant impact on women's economic empowerment through such initiatives. The gender-specific leadership programmes demonstrated substantial positive impacts on youth entrepreneurs' business activities and overall economic resilience. However, further research is needed to understand the long-term sustainability of these interventions in diverse urban contexts. Future studies should explore the scalability of these programmes and their potential for replication across other Nigerian cities with varying socio-economic conditions. Additionally, more comprehensive follow-up assessments are recommended to gauge sustained programme outcomes. gender-specific leadership, youth entrepreneurship, Nigerian urban markets, impact analysis