13 Jul 2015

Mayor for Gaborone, Mr Kagiso Thutlwe says, over the past twenty-one years Junior Achievement Botswana (JAB) has proved to be a visionary company as it unleashes the entrepreneurship and economic potential of young Batswana.

Speaking at the 2015 JAB National Best Business Expo award ceremony held in Gaborone, Mr Thutlwe said, the JAB partnership with Ministry of Education and Skills Development means a lot and raises high hopes for this country.

“The partnership provides a rare and unique opportunity for the nation to play an active rather than a passive role in preparing it for the economic challenges of globalizing a world that is growing more competitive,” he said.

He further said he hopes the partnership will continue to grow from strength to strength over the next generation for the good of a greater society. 

He urged those who did not win at the expo to appreciate the loss and take into consideration the fact that they had an opportunity to partake in the event which marks small and humble beginnings of greater things to come in life. 

Commenting at the event Executive Director of JAB, Ms Tshidi Tlhong said JAB develops young people to become greater people in life. She said at JAB they teach young people how to apply what they have acquired from the classroom and commercialize their knowledge to make money.

“At Junior Achievement Botswana, knowledge is power if it is applied,” she said.

She stressed that at JAB young people excel academically because they turn businesses into study groups and that if people are not academically gifted, when they come to JAB they improve performance because of methodologies used there.

She said the other thing that JAB can pride itself with is career development. “JAB is a human resource development strategy for our country. 

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, Mr Simon Coles raised a concern stating that no Information and Communications Technology (ICT) application has been shown at the Expo in this era of ICT.

He however encouraged youngsters to go out and learn about ICT. The business categories that participated in the expo included among others, environment wildlife and tourism, consultancy services, and agriculture business. 

The 2015 JAB best business awards overall results saw Selepa Junior School scooping position one in the junior school category and Moshupa Senior School in the senior category. The 2015 JAB top achievers will have a chance to compete in the regional competitions in Gabon. ENDS