Learners receive free entrepreneurial skills
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday November 4, 2014 15:49
Ngwana Enterprises hosted a Standard 7 Entrepreneurship Day tour, media briefing and press roundtable on Wednesday, at Diggers Inn. The event was hosted to offer in-depth understanding of what skills drive innovation and economic growth.
Learners showed interest in these ideas and were encouraged to ask questions on the importance of creating employment for themselves instead of rushing out to look for employment after completing their studies. Two youthful entrepreneurs, Blake Murry of Fluid Academics based in the United States of America (USA) and South African Jonas Lekganyane, founder of Noko Mashaba cartoons, were invited to offer free entrepreneurial skills to the students. The duo has been touring the country with an Ngwana Enterprise delegation conducting Standard 7 entrepreneurship tours. They have visited Orapa, Kasane, Maun and Gaborone spreading entrepreneurship skills.
The Director of Ngwana Enterprises, Mooketsi Tekere, said the duo would be touting the country to share with students the benefits of believing in ones own creativity and also the possibility of creating products that can change their lives.
“The idea is to develop and encourage entrepreneurship among young people in Botswana. The tour will be structured to help Standard 7 potential entrepreneurs connect their academic or school experience to business concepts,” he said. Murry advised learners to work hard to close the gap between the poor and the rich through expanding their minds with venturing in what they are good at not focusing on academic whilst they are not gifted on. He said he had learnt that majority of Batswana don’t maximise their talents. He also advised learners to differentiate their goals and reality because one can dream to be a doctor whilst he has talent in drawing and can use that talent to succeed in life.
“I know that Botswana sustains its economy with diamonds but they are not forever. If the economy goes down the citizens will suffer because these diamonds are the ones that pay people’s salaries and develops the country. However as an entrepreneur one can create their own business and hire other citizens, “ he said.
Murry added that developed countries were not into white-collar jobs. Instead, most of them use creative talents to make a living and have ventured into all kinds of businesses and subsequently help government create jobs.
“Building capacity takes a long period of time, it comes with failures, as an entrepreneur you should be ready to face such challenges and do not despair in life. Failures are not meant to destroy you but to make you strong, I want to see you after completion of your learning be able to face the real world,” he said. For his part, Lekganyane urged learners to take their talents seriously and use them to make a living. He pointed out individuals who use their talents in singing, sports and other arts. He said some people ended up being employed but earning little money, while they have talents that could earn them a more substantial income.