Most countries attain significant socio-economic changes through effectively utilizing the entrepreneurial skills of the youth generation. Thus, governments prioritize to organize special institutions that help the youths identify and exercise their unique talents; to outshine and motivate new ideas. Entrepreneurship immensely contributes to improve the way of life and widen new job opportunities throughout the world.
In Ethiopia, youths are highly encouraged to cultivate their entrepreneurship skills, create jobs and employ themselves and fellow citizens. Thus, various incentives have been offered to the youth and women in different times. Money and in-kind supports, availing land for working, continued guidance services, among others help the young people to work closely with government bodies towards boosting their competency.
Recently, the Ministry of Labor and Skills (MoLS) announced its preparation to hold an entrepreneurship award; and contest more than 3,000 innovative ideas across the country. Such an entrepreneurship competition sought to encourage the youths’ entrepreneurial ideas is crucial to solve national problems regarding job opportunity and related issues.
The competition was named the 4th round Biruh Ethiopia National Entrepreneurship Competition. The main purpose of the competition is to encourage the youth’s entrepreneurial ideas and motivate others to follow similar footsteps.
Regarding this, MoLS State Minister Nigussu Tilahun said the competition aims to empower and incentivize the youths’ entrepreneurial ideas and build their skills. The winners will be trained on how to change entrepreneurial ideas into problem solving activities.
As to him, 5,000 USD will be given to 50 best ideas as an award as a startup capital in this year. The State Minister further stated that some 2,412 individuals have been participating under the seven national and state level competitions so far whilst 400 of them received Boot Camp training.
Accordingly, the practice of nurturing capable young entrepreneurs commenced two years ago and in this year, some 1,016 ideas were registered from various states while the universities share is 127.
Furthermore, the program focuses on encouraging young people who come up with ideas that will help to solve the community’s problems, create jobs and enable the country to utilize its natural resources wisely and efficiently, Nigussu remarked.
MoLS Minister Muferiat Kamil on her part said that the Ministry awards best entrepreneurial ideas so as to motivate entrepreneurship in the country. The Ministry also provided 5,000 USD to 50 entrepreneurs who reached the final round and won the entrepreneurial ideas competition in Biruh Ethiopia.
As to her, such award enables the entrepreneurs to translate their ideas into practice.
Speaking at an awarding event organized under the theme “The Biruh Ethiopia 2023 Entrepreneurship Idea Competition Reward System and Exhibition,” the Minister said that there are many stakeholders who have done their part to make this work a success especially by being sources of finance for a new startup.
“A great idea, if it is implemented properly, is huge energy by itself that brings significant outcomes in terms of creating jobs, ensuring competitiveness, realizing national prosperity and ensuring sustainable peace,” she added.
She further stated that in the campaign from November to November, 3000 ideas were planned to be competed and in the first round, 1,137 ideas were decided to go in for. It is so small number compared with that of millions of people living across the country.
“Of course, it might be due to the existing shortage of shades, finance and physical infrastructure which are hindering novices to run their activities. However, it is expected from the youth to face problems and bring the necessary results. The Ministry and other stakeholders will provide the required assistance. In this regard, the Development Bank of Ethiopia (DBE) promised to solve the equity finance of the startups” she noted.
Moreover, the youth entrepreneurs who participated at the 4th round Biruh Ethiopia National Entrepreneurship Competition said that they are looking for sustainable backings to problem-solving innovations.
Accordingly, the winners of the competition emphasized that the youth in Ethiopia have the potential to solve the national problems if they are given adequate attention.
Kemal Abdurhaman, a physically disabled youth from Gedeb Asasa area of the Arsi zone of Oromia State, who won the 5,000 USD (some 260,000 Birr) in the Biruh Ethiopia Entrepreneurship Idea Competition recently, told The Ethiopian Herald that his family has had problems over the past many years. He has engaged in wheelchairs manufacturing company (Hamile Wheelchair Company) following his physical impairment and challenges to move from one area to the other.
As to him, before making a wheelchair, he was engaged in selling sugarcane and collected some 6,000 Birr, and directly practiced making the wheelchair by collecting the material from the area. After watching this activity, a number of families with disabled members were requesting him to make similar wheelchairs for their children. He obtained 6,000 Birr per wheelchair when he started the startups whilst this amount is increasing over 15,000 Birr at present.
“Taking into account the capacity of those families that have disabled members and can pay for the wheelchair, I have helped those who could hardly afford it. If the problem became beyond my capacity, I attempted to communicate with investors and government bodies to help the disabled community,” he added.
Currently, he has over 75,000 birr total capital though lack of shade, finance, human power, and machine are among the serious factors that are hindering him from producing wheelchairs. He planned to increase productivity and create jobs for many jobless fellow citizens.
Seid Abdulahi, from Somali State, on his part said that Ethiopian youths have huge potential that can solve a number of national problems. However, it needs commitment and an enabling environment to fully reach their potential and succeed at it.
Seid and his friends have developed Software that facilitates the transportation and health care systems and which has significant benefits in making the activities easier.
BY TEWODROS KASSA
The Ethiopian Herald July 2/2023
