British Council to launch youth entrepreneurship initiative
The British Council will on November 5 launch Lilongwe Pitch Night, a platform which seeks to empower the youth by accelerating their emerging and innovative businesses.
Lilongwe Pitch Night becomes an extension of the flagship Zitheka! Project which the Council has been implementing since March 2014 to raise awareness on entrepreneurship amongst young Malawians.
In an statement on Monday, Country Director of the British Council, Reena Johl said Lilongwe Pitch Night brings awareness of many innovators and budding entrepreneurs in the Capital City.
She further said it facilitates networking, mentorship, access to financing through bringing together potential investors, collaborators and the general public.
Said Johl: “Malawi has a population of over 16 million with 67 percent representing the youth. More so, the country is registering a low GDP whilst at the same time 75 percent of Malawi’s most productive population, the youth are unemployed.
“This figure continues to rise due to the output of yearly graduates from tertiary and secondary institutions; if this crisis is not addressed we face recession and production of delinquents in our society. Malawi is now gradually beginning to recognize that entrepreneurship is the solution to a viable career path and an alternative to formal employment.”
Johl also stressed the need for an entrepreneurial revolution to showcase the youth’s ability to contribute to the Malawi’s economic growth through innovation and talent that can be commercialised and contribute in the various industries.
“That is why as the UK’s international cultural relations organisation here in Malawi British Council is actively involved in initiatives such as Lilongwe Pitch Night and Zitheka!,” she added.
The Lilongwe Pitch Night, which is being organised in collaboration with Jubilee Enterprises, mHub and Avant-Garde, will be a monthly event where three to five pitchers step up on the platform and pitch their businesses or innovations.
Keynote address speaker at the inaugural event will be Dr. David Kamchacha, a seasoned entrepreneur and promoter of a rice processing facility which is the largest in Southern Africa.
