Pakasa Forum: University students tipped on job creation

PIC : Lt. Gen. Charles Angina urged the students to stop despising Agri-businesses because agriculture is one of the key drivers of Uganda's economy. Photos by Denis Nsubuga 

BUSINESS

The 9th edition of Pakasa Forum ended Thursday with a call on university students to focus on job creation.

The Executive Director, Nice House of Plastics and chairperson of the Uganda Manufacturers Association, Barbara Mulwana was the key speaker at the event held at Makerere University.

Under the theme Unlocking Students Potential, the forum attracted over 1000 people.

Citing innovation as key in running a successful enterprise, Mulwana urged the students to always think outside the box and be innovative so as to be job creators.

She added that part of what makes entrepreneurs fail both in the short and long run is thinking that they always have to venture into something that has been explored by several other entrepreneurs who have actually secured the biggest share of the market.

  The Executive Director, Nice House of Plastics and chairperson of the Uganda Manufacturers Association, Barbara Mulwana was the key speaker at the event held at Makerere University

The event was also graced by Operation Wealth Creation's deputy coordinator Lieutenant Gen. Charles Angina who urged the students to stop despising Agri-businesses because agriculture is one of the key drivers of Uganda's economy and a lucrative venture.

During the same event, Vision Group CEO Robert Kabushenga tipped the participants on the values of hard work adding that there is no short cut to success.

He told the students not to think that they can make it through short cuts like sports betting. "There is no short cut to success. You have to put in the work," Kabushenga said.

The panelists of the day included three young and successful entrepreneurs who shared moving testimonies about how they managed to set up successful enterprises.

They included Grace Naluggwa a former winner of Pakasa Youth Awards 2016  and currently the owner of St Lawrence Primary School located in Nansana, 24-year-old Ezra Kiriggwajo a third year student and proprietor of a chain of small businesses and Ruth Namara, 22, a third year student of Business Administration (BBA) and proprietor of a bakery.

The forum will be crowned by the 3rd annual Entrepreneurship Students Expo at Makerere University Freedom Square on Friday.

Some of the students that attended the event

Dr Peter K. Turyakira the head of Department Marketing and Management said the Expo is aimed at enhancing students' learning and application of knowledge.

"This expo will offer students the opportunity to display what is learnt in class and is also an opportunity for them to begin planning for life after university. Students both graduate and undergraduate will exhibit different ideas in micro and small businesses at Makerere University Freedom Square," said Turyakira.

Turyakira said over 1,500 university students are expected to showcase innovative ideas grouped under 200 businesses.