Student Seeks Way Around Graduate Unemployment
Isaac Pinielo | Monday January 23, 2017 16:21
Today, with only a few months to finish her studies, 22-year-old Desert from Thamaga village, majoring in Economics and Public Administration, has a dream to ignite the spark of entrepreneurship among other varsity students.
To make her dream become a reality, she is organising a workshop dubbed, “The Business Intervention” to be held at the end of this month at the UB premises.
“The Business Intervention is a business empowerment event focusing on graduates to confront and address the issue of graduate unemployment,” Desert said.
She stated that the initiative was taken as a measure to address what she termed as “the calamity” through igniting the spirit of entrepreneurship in undergraduates.
“I am finishing my studies this year hence the motivation to make the event now because the reality of unemployment is slowly beginning to sink in, which has even become my major concern,” she said. According to Desert, she needs to help other students in her position and those yet to graduate to plan for their life-after-university well in time.
Thus, with her passion for entrepreneurship, she conceived a consultancy company called Lucrative Modique Group, which is spearheading the workshop. The company is currently operating under the incubation of the Global Business Labs.
She noted that this is the first time that she will be hosting a workshop of this magnitude, adding that with its success, the event will be held on an annual basis, changing venues around different universities.
“In this year’s event we are expecting a turnout of about 150 people considering the capacity of the venue used,” Desert said.
Unlike other event organisers who source funding for hosting events, she indicated that she will be funding her workshop out of her pocket, with the support from friends and family, as well as some companies that have agreed to sponsor the event in kind.
She emphasised that she has always felt a great need to bring positive change, noting that this event is her starting point in giving back and that it is the reason she embarked on the idea without first sourcing any funding.
The workshop, which will run for three days, is meant to improve students’ investment and engagement in economic and entrepreneurial activities, and to accelerate the induction of entrepreneurship in universities, according to Desert.
In addition, she said the workshop intends to make an effort towards changing student’s perspective towards entrepreneurship as a whole.
Renowned economist, Bogolo Kenewendo, who is also a specially elected legislator, will deliver the keynote address. The workshop will feature panel discussions, as well as opportunities for student entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas.
“Not only will we empower students, but also we expect them to act using the knowledge they have acquired from the workshop and complement it with the skills they learnt in school to come up with projects that will empower them economically and aid their livelihood,” Desert said.
She also expressed the intention to compile a recommendation report with regard to the issue of entrepreneurship among university students, as well as issues surrounding graduates unemployment.
“The report will be shared with the relevant authorities to influence policy development,” she said.