07 Dec 2021

Botswana Accountancy College (BAC) and the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development (MYSC), have vowed to deliver initiatives to support youth economic advancement.

To this end, the two entities recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to continuously look for opportunities to create initiatives that will impact the youth in various ways.

Briefing the media in Gaborone, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development, Mr Kago Ramokate said as the youth constitute 34.6 percent of the population of Botswana, their development and empowerment remain a key policy issue.

Stressing that youth unemployment was an area of concern, he said, government was however making advances in alleviating it through promotion of youth entrepreneurship, as evidenced by a budget of P120 million per annum for youth start-ups.

Over and above this budget, significant amounts are invested by strategic partners on the training of both the youth fund recipients and capacity building for officers, he said.

Meanwhile, BAC Executive Director, Ms Serty Leburu highlighted the need for collaboration by all stakeholders for the growth of the economy, hence the formalization of the relationship to ‘identify critical areas to create synergies for the benefit of young people in our country’.

She said the relationship between BAC and MYESEC was established years ago, and it has since grown as areas of collaboration expanded.

Ms Leburu said BAC will mentor youth start-up businesses to enhance leadership, customer service, business administration, record keeping, general operations, as well as budgetary and financial planning skills, to ensure growth and sustainability. Ends/tmk/bopa/06.12.2021