Support youth develop business skills, govt urged

By Faridah Kulabako

Government should support the development of stronger entrepreneurial mind-sets and skills to boost job creation and address fundamental causes of poverty, a new report indicates.

The report, titled "From Rhetoric to Action" authored by a team of 18 Global Young Researchers from different countries around the world, including Uganda, states that poverty is the most pressing issue facing the youth, due to limited job opportunities.

It adds that developing stronger entrepreneurial mindsets and skills among the youth
will contribute to a more creative and productive country. Young people account for 83% of Uganda's population.

Although it is estimated that over 400,000 youth enter the job market annually, the available
opportunities are only estimated at 9,000. This has driven up the unemployment rate among the youth to 64%, according to the World Bank.

The report further notes that there is need to promote long-term employability, entrepreneurial and practical skills and create more opportunities for non-formal education, if the country is to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 2016-2030 SDGs agenda adopted by global economies, including Uganda, in New York last year, includes a set of 17 SDGs, including ending poverty, fighting inequality and injustice, and tackling climate change by 2030.

Speaking at the launch of the report, Enterprise Uganda executive director Charles Ocici said although government has prioritised vocational training, there is need to focus on  changing of mind-set towards a more entrepreneurial culture.

"Entrepreneurship is tough and it takes attitudinal transformation and passion for one to venture into it. We need the right mindset to foster entrepreneurship spirit," Ocici said.

He noted that the youth should break the mentality of going to school to get jobs, and instead go to school to broaden skills so as to start their own enterprises. "Education is a gateway to
broader options; go through that education system, but have a broader perspective. Get that education, but go back and deliver solutions to society problems using the acquired knowledge," Ocici noted.

The programme manager at British Council, Uganda, Maxwell Kamanyire, noted the need to shift the thinking of some youth, who believe they cannot do certain things, like starting their own businesses.

Andrew Devenport, the youth business international chief executive offi cer, called for partnerships and collaborations between Government, the private sector and civil society organisations to develop activities that enhance skills, knowledge and learning.

These may include mentoring for young people and paid internships, among others. He added that the rate at which startups collapse in Uganda, calls for consistent and able support structure for young entrepreneurs to navigate the challenging entrepreneurship journey.

Although the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor ranked Uganda a top entrepreneurial country globally, it is reported that only two out of 10 startups celebrate their second birthday.

Brian Bilal Mwebaze, one of the researchers, noted the need to work with a wide range of stakeholders including the Police, judiciary, religious leaders, private sector and civil society organisations to support young entrepreneurs.

He also called attitude change, saying it will break the long held inhibitive cultural thinking that inhibits people from venturing into entrepreneurship. The report was commissioned by Restless Development, War Child UK, Youth Business International and Enterprise Uganda