03 Nov 2020

Francistown City Mayor, Mr Godisang Radisigo says the entrepreneurship training programme offered by Francistown College of Vocational and Technical Education (FCTVE) exists to stimulate effective entrepreneurship and personal development in business.

Giving a keynote address at the official opening of the week long entrepreneurship seminar in Francistown on Monday, Mr Radisigo said the seminar was a meaningful concept as it provided mentorship and networking skills.

He said the entrepreneurship development training would come in handy in government-funded businesses, which had been failing due to inadequate training.

“The government has put in place different programmes aiming to diversify the economy by providing funding for Small Micro Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) but not many of these make it past five years,” he said, adding that the problem was basically poor business management skills and financial illiteracy.

He said the entrepreneurship seminar was the brainchild of FCTVE business department  in collaboration with Yenu Supermarkets, an initiative geared at closing the skills gap in line with the college’s mission to offer lifelong learning to create competent and innovative individuals.

Through the self-employment training, Mr Radisigo said they sought not to only encourage Batswana to produce, but brand their own products and be able to compete with other brands in the business spheres.

For his part, FCTVE Principal, Mr Asalepele Tobedza said the mission of the college was developing competent and innovative individuals by providing quality, flexible lifelong technical and vocational education, thereby the college had assisted the unemployed youth with lifelong skills in a number of spheres such as beauty therapy, food handling, fashion and design among others.

Mr Tobedza said it was an indication to all that there was an emergence of concealed revolution, therefore those with the right skills would increasingly create job opportunities.

He said the college’s intention was to continue with the good work by recognising that it was through human development that the Vision 2036 pillars could be achievable.

Furthermore, he said the college needed to be responsive to the market needs, hence support from everyone would be highly appreciated.

Mr Tobedza advised the entrepreneurs to focus on the seminar and acquire competent skills to be better individuals in the future.

“Any potential that you have you need to explore, set your rules, plan your work and work your plan,” he said.

He said the college was expected to enroll 1 520 students with about 160 workers, but currently it had 570 students with staff complement of 62.

Giving vote of thanks, FCTVE deputy principal, Ms Tendani Thabano noted that great economies were not built by government, but were only supported by government in which conducive environments were created to enable businesses to thrive.

Ms Thabano said the seminar sought to support government’s initiative on growing the economy by ensuring that the entrepreneurs had the right skills and attitude to engage in businesses and sustain them.

She stated that the youth and business owners were the country’s diamonds and if properly mentored and empowered, the country was sure to have a vibrant economy led by the youth through their well run and sustainable businesses. ENDS