25 Apr 2017

Most of today’s youth have found refuge in businesses to escape the high unemployment rate affecting their peers.
Some of these are funded through the Youth Development Fund (YDF), Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA), Gender Affairs, Poverty Eradication Programme and other financial assistance initiatives.
Owing to challenges they are facing in the different aspects of their businesses, either in finance or difficulties in market access, North East District youth in business have turned to the Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) for help.
This has resulted in a three-day workshop held in Masunga, where youthful entreprenuers pleaded with BIH to come up with ways that would ensure that their businesses do not collapse.
One of the participants, Mr Ndawana Kuswani, a small stock farmer at Masunga stated that although they were grateful for the government’s start-up funds under the YDF, the youth office did not give them enough attention and necessary information that they needed to nurture their businesses.

He further stated that during the recent Dineo cyclone, he lost 50 goats due to a fly that came as a result of heavy continuous rains.
He said he reported the matter to the youth office, but it failed him, causing him to suffer losses.
Mr Kuswani lamented that he later learned on what he should have done after the tragedy, information which could have been useful before he lost his goats. He was hopeful that BIH would assist them in addressing their problems.
Another youth, Mr Naison Gopolang of Naison’s Farm at Mulambakwena also pleaded with BIH to rescue them from the negligence of youth office. He said most of their businesses were either collapsing or stagnant due to lack of assistance from youth office. He noted that they required information on marketing and advertising skills.

He said due to market saturation one needed to be unique in pitching his products or business, but they lacked the requisite skills.
Me Gopolang mentioned that he was grateful to the establishment of the innovation hub office as he believed it would change their mindset as young people in business and enhace their problem solving skills.
For her part, BIH information services manager, Ms Esther Yame said BIH’s mandate included contributing to the country’s economic development and competitiveness as well as create new scientific technological and indigenous knowledge-based business opportunities
She further stated that they would liaise with different organisations and departments to make sure that youth’s voices were heard and that their businesses excelled.
“BIH is in the process to construct a science and Technology Park also known as an icon building to create an environment that will support start-up and existing local companies as well as attract international companies,” she said.
She advised the youth to utilise the innovation hub to strengthen their knowledge, productivity as well as uplift their spirit of competitiveness in business.
On problem solving skills, BIH’s innovation liaison officer, Mr Rebaone Odirile stated that challenges were always a hindrance in business and that as entrepreneurs they should not be afraid, but rather ask themselves why they were in business. He said the question ‘why’ helped in identifying missing gaps
Mr Odirile also urged youth to always think outside the box whenever they faced challenges because sometimes solutions come from least expected places .
He also emphasised the need for youth to be passionate whenever advertising their products.ENDS