CEDA To Unveil Student Entrepreneur
Pauline Dikuelo | Monday November 19, 2018 13:06
Last year, CEDA in collaboration with DBSA launched its inaugural competition in which a Botswana University of Agricultural and Natural Resources (BUAN) student, Lebogang Pule emerged the winner walking away with P200, 000 for his submission of producing an organic fertiliser.
Speaking during the launch of the top 10 presentations recently, CEDA CEO, Thabo Thamane said the competition is one of the platforms that help the organisation inculcate the spirit of entrepreneurship amongst the , especially those that are still enrolled in academic institutions.
“The competition seeks to inspire Botswana youth and students to deliver practical and market oriented solutions to Botswana’s challenges and support them through the university challenge award,” he said.
In addition, the challenge aims to strengthen Botswana’s ecosystems by mobilising innovation enablers from all sectors to contribute towards a conducive environment to fuel innovation across Botswana in support of national priority areas. The Challenge calls upon the youth of Botswana, specifically those enrolled in institutions of higher learning accredited by the Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA), at all levels; Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor’s Degree, Masters Degrees or Doctoral Programmes to come up with implementable solutions to issues affecting the country, namely in the areas of youth employment, empowerment and poverty eradication.
This year the challenge invited three more academic institutions, Development Management, Boitekanelo College and Botswana Open University.
Last week 10 finalists presented their proposals to panel of judges including representatives from different organisations.
The CEDA/DBSA University Challenge is an outcome of the World Federation of Development Finance Institutions (WFDFI) 3rd Joint CEO Forum.
The Challenge was offered by the chairperson of the Association of African Development Finance Institutions, and the CEO of the DBSA, Patrick Dlamini, with an offer to pay out P100, 000 to any student who could come up with an implementable solution to address any of the key issues facing Botswana.
He further offered P25, 000 extra if a female came up with the solution.
As a result, the winning solution receives P200, 000. Further, in order to encourage cutting edge innovation amongst women, if the winning candidate is female, they would receive an extra P50, 000 for a total of P250, 000.