Youths have been urged to embrace entrepreneurship which will result in economic growth instead of chasing after the elusive white-collar jobs.
Amani Katana the Executive Director Youth Empowerment Program Initiative (YEPI) has advised young men and women to embrace technology and entrepreneurship to tackle the high rate of unemployment in the country.
Mr. Katana says the youth should use their initiatives and innovations rather than depend on public and private institutions for gainful employment.
He says the YEPI programs encourage young people who are in a vulnerable position to regain control of their own life through entrepreneurial skills.
Katana says the youth organization came into existence to address unemployment, poverty and violent extremism among the youth in the country.
The YEPI executive director says youth entrepreneurship can be deployed for economic empowerment in order to curtail the growing rate of insecurity occasioned by poverty and unemployment.
He says entrepreneurship and technology is what is needed in today’s world to sustain the national economy and help the youth thrive and increase their income.
Katana spoke to the press at the 7th edition of the YEPI Entrepreneurship Summit running under the theme ‘Promoting Sustainable Entrepreneurship: Driver for Growth’ at a Hotel in Mombasa.
YEPI provides programs that include Stemp Program and Governor Startup Challenge that are meant to upskill women and the youth in business.
The YEPI official noted that deliberate interventions supporting micro, small and medium enterprises are needed to cut down rising unemployment projections in the country.
“Entrepreneurship especially among the youth should be encouraged by all and sundry in order to reduce the high unemployment rate in the country,” said Katana.
He said any entrepreneur who wants to achieve success should follow reliable business modules in order to start and grow their own business.
Katana encouraged entrepreneurs seeking to become successful to find and develop a profitable business idea, research into the business idea and identify pitfalls and strive to solve them.
Khadija Abdalla YEPI Programme Coordinator says the business summit is structured as a networking platform for entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, corporate and government leaders who are committed to support and develop entrepreneurship ecosystems.
Ms. Abdalla says the youth should embrace entrepreneurship as the pathway to financial success and to build their own business empire and achieve financial freedom.
“The summit will better inform our youths to have the mindset that they can move the nation forward by being entrepreneurs,’’ she said, adding that the forum brought together over 200 young budding entrepreneurs.
She says the YEPI summit goal is to empower young people interested in entrepreneurship by giving them the opportunity to learn new skills and to present their ideas for new ventures.
She says the annual summit offers great networking opportunities, inspiring speakers and panel discussions and learning the best business practices from successful entrepreneurs.
Ms. Abdalla says that by engaging in entrepreneurship most of the youths would become dominant players in the national economy leading to national development.
She has implored youths to take a leading role in entrepreneurship activities in a bid to improve their lot noting that the aim of the conference was to find solutions to the unemployment situation in the country.
She says the youth should not be obsessed with getting employed in the public or private sectors to receive salaries rather they should be daring to be entrepreneurs.
Victor Owino founder and director of Trek Africa, a tour and travel firm said the conference gave the young entrepreneurs the mindset of becoming the shapers of their destiny.
Mr. Owino said through the YEPI forums the entrepreneurs learn how to position their products and understand what differentiates it from that of your competitors and be mindful of quality.
By Hussein Abdullahi
