Equity Bank, partners celebrate Youth Week in Kampala

The programme was conducted during a period when Uganda and the world continue to celebrate Youth Week. The event aimed to address challenges faced by the youth in the country, including unemployment and a lack of skills best fit for the current job market.’

Equity Bank Uganda and partners over the weekend closed a two-day skilling programme that witnessed hundreds of young people gather to acquire life-changing skills.

The programme was conducted during a period when Uganda and the world continue to celebrate Youth Week. The event aimed to address challenges faced by the youth in the country, including unemployment and a lack of skills best fit for the current job market.

The 2-day event included interactive workshops and hands-on activities across various skills, exhibitions to showcase products, services, and innovations, a master class, learning new skills in areas of technology, art, crafts, and entrepreneurship, and industry expert advisory to the youth to enable participants to explore new ideas, networks, and discover resources that will help them in their skill development and career paths.

Nelson Mugisha, the Manager Enterprise Development at Equity Bank Uganda, cited the role of institutional support in youth development, emphasizing the importance of starting skill-building efforts.

‘’Equity Bank is committed to empowering the youth through several financing efforts and partnerships with NGOs to enhance service delivery. This is evident in collaborative projects such as Young Africa Works, which has provided financial support to over 36,000 micro-businesses in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation,” Mugisha explained.

Ismail Mulindwa, the Commissioner Basic Education at the Ministry of Education and Sports, articulated a strong commitment to education and youth empowerment.

“This training supports the various training programs we have as a ministry responsible for training people in the nation. Education is key to the growth of our country; it is through education that we acquire the knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to navigate and thrive in the ever-changing world.”

Uganda’s current demographic weight comprises the youth, with of over 77% of the population under 25 years old. The youth are active participants and drivers of social-economic transformation in Uganda, as they play a significant role in entrepreneurship and digital innovation.

Stakeholders highlight the critical role youth play, especially in entrepreneurship and social enterprises, and hence the introduction of the Young Africa Works program where youth have access to unsecured loans in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, designed to empower youth enterprises and also tackle youth unemployment.

source : newvision