26 Mar 2018

As part of its corporate social responsibility, Okavango Diamond Company has graduated 10 participants of the Youth Entrepreneurship Programnme meant to expose them to the principles of entrepreneurship and the basics of the diamond sector.

The seven-month course saw participants getting trained to develop their own business plans to support their aspirations of becoming entrepreneurs of note within the sophisticated diamond industry.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony on March 23, ODC Board member and chair of remuneration committee, Mr Khaulani Fichani said they found it appropriate to become part of the solution to some of the country’s challenges such as unemployment and lack of entrepreneurial spirit as a company.

He said one of their interests as a company was to empower Batswana youth.

He remained hopeful that the aspiring entrepreneurs would grow to start successful diamond businesses and employ other youth.

Mr Fichani further explained that the diamond industry was volatile and therefore challenged companies and other stakeholders to be innovative and offer programmes that would expose younger generations to the diamond industry that has always been portrayed as inaccessible.

“When we started with this programme, we were all aware of the fact that entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted as it requires great courage and discipline.

In Botswana, we are currently facing unemployment challenge that must be addressed with all the key stakeholders and accept the fact that entrepreneurship involves hard-work and dedication,” he said.

He urged the participants to establish themselves as sustainable business people and to engage in conversations with those that were willing to listen to expand their knowledge in the diamond sector.

He implored them to capitalise on the opportunity and to inspire their peers to change their lives, their families and the country as a whole.

Ms Kutlo Thathana, the company’s stakeholder relations executive, explained that the annual Youth Entreprenuership Programme was on its second year and would continue to inspire the youth to pursue entrepreneurship in the diamond industry.

She said an interested applicant has to be a Motswana with a minimum qualification of Cambridge certificate and be between the ages of 18 and 35.

Okavango Diamond Company is a 100 per cent government-owned company, whose objectives are to provide government with a direct commercial route to market for a portion of Botswana’s diamonds and provide insight into market prices and trends to support strategic decision-making. Ends