ABI to introduce business study program in Uganda

The African Business Institute (ABI), an affiliate of the African Bible University in Uganda and also a member of the African Bible College, is set to introduce a $250,000 (some sh868m) business study program in Uganda.

Jun Shiomitsu, head of the Institute, says the program will not only educate but mentor and help fund young Ugandan and other African entrepreneurs to establish themselves in the competitive world of business.

The Institute hopes to raise the $250,000 in the early course of this year to commence the program.

Shiomitsu was speaking at the Institute's second student recruitment fair at Grace Restaurant, Lubowa. The first batches of students are slated to begin studies in January 2017.

The Christian-founded Institute will offer students a one-year course on entrepreneurship, business theory models, paired with practical skills, ideation, coaching for investment, plus a valuable opportunity to create and run their own businesses.

Shiomitsu said the business program will involve classroom courses, workshop exercises and live projects to provide students with both academic and practical skills.

"This Christian oriented program is the first of its kind in Uganda and in Africa," he said.

"It will cost each student $1,900 (sh6.5m) for the whole course. The program will be 50% academic and 50% pragmatic. It has taken three years of research and three years of pilot courses to gauge its feasibility.

"There has been an overwhelming demand for the program in Uganda and at the end of it all, we shall have adept and creative Ugandan and African business minds obtaining a firm footing in any kind of business," said Shiomitsu.

The program will run at the African Bible University campus in Lubowa, Kampala and will be administered by lecturers from Japan and the United States.