…MTN calls for more funding for entrepreneurs
That The Project Management Institute, an association for project professionals, has identified key growth opportunities to ensure sustainable development across Africa.
PMI made this known during its two-day conference in Lagos, which was attended by over 300 delegates from 20 African countries. The conference was attended by stakeholders who discussed the evolving nature of project management, the project economy, the impact of new technologies and the custom certifications that PMI is developing to meet the new needs in specific industries.
According to the statement, the highlights of the conference were the talks on youth, entrepreneurship, education and employability issues. The conference achieved its goal of promoting project management as the basis for building thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems, high-performing workplaces and societies.
The South African journalist and Executive Director of Marketing & Communications, University of Limpopo, Victor Kgomoeswana, remarked in his keynote that Africa is endowed with an abundance of biodiversity, natural resources, tourism potential and cultural heritage. In addition, the significant growth recorded in Africa despite the COVID-19 pandemic can be attributed to cross-border trade and internet penetration, he noted.
In his view, African leaders and changemakers must focus on developing a population with problem-solving skills.
“We need to change our perception and attitude. No goal can be achieved without good project management. It is a skill that should be taught in basic training. All problem solving in Africa today requires some kind of project management.”
Junior Achievement Africa CEO Simi Nwogugu said youth on the continent needed to develop 21st-century skills and cultivate a spirit of volunteerism.
“If entrepreneurship isn’t for you, skills like design thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and innovation can help you land the jobs that are available. Mentoring is also crucial because when you work with young people, especially teenagers, they need relatable role models. We bring volunteers into the classroom for this. There is no single path to success; It’s a combination of your talent and innovation that the world needs to generate income.”
MTN Foundation Executive Secretary Odunayo Sanya noted that funding is one of the downsides of entrepreneurship. To alleviate this, the MTN Foundation, in partnership with the Bank of Industry, provides loans and has also created the Y’elloPreneur program.
Anzisha Prize Executive Director Josh Adler noted the importance of examining entrepreneurship education outcomes. He observed that many graduates of entrepreneurship programs did not actually start their business after graduation.
“A lot of these graduates are still going out to get jobs.
“They have to learn how to do project management and how to implement it. We have to be honest with ourselves about the results. We need better results.”
