Britain wants more youths in entrepreneurship

British Council country director Reena Johl has said her government will raise more awareness of entrepreneurship among young Malawians and encourage the youth to consider it as a viable route to employment creation.

Johl said this on Tuesday in the context of their newly-introduced initiative dubbed, ‘Zitheka: Making it happen,’ an initial activity in Malawi under the campaign of Entrepreneurial Africa, which the British Council, working with partners is launching across sub-Saharan Africa this year.

Under the initiative, the council yesterday in collaboration with other key stakeholders held a workshop in Lilongwe in partnership with Small and Medium Enterprise Development Institute (Smedi) and the Jubilee Trust supported by FDH Bank.

Johl said the workshops will allow the audience to explore some of the policy level challenges to support entrepreneurship in Malawi as well as offer some solutions.

She said the panel of distinguished guest speakers will offer a range of perspectives on entrepreneurship in Malawi and will draw from their professional and personal experiences and knowledge.

Johl said Zitheka is intended for those who may have already started a small business as well as those that harbour an idea to start a business.

“The British Council and the British High Commission in Lilongwe are both committed to supporting efforts in Malawi to increase youth employability and promoting economic growth,” she said.

Johl said by working with young Malawians to improve skills, encourage entrepreneurship and promote social enterprise, Britain believes it can help enable them to realise their potential and become active and effective agents of change in strengthening the country’s economy and society’s well-being.

In sub-Saharan Africa, it is estimated that a quarter of all young people are out of work and not in education and the number is set to grow as populations grow.

She said with the initiative, they hope to increase young people’s awareness and motivate them into taking action by highlighting their potential for success through entrepreneurship.

Johl also said Britain will vow to promote debate among policy makers and influencers.