Poly holds business mentorship seminar

News   Chapter Banda   February 5, 2019
PIC: Kaliwo presenting during the seminar
The University of Malawi —The Polytechnic on Monday, February 4, 2019 held an entrepreneurship seminar which focused on developing businesses ideas and mindsets among the youths.

The seminar which took place at the institution’s Design Studio also brought some quarters of the youths from Southern Region.

The event aimed at teaching young entrepreneurs and those that have brilliant business ideas in any field. It also focused on how they can apply to get funding from Tony Elumelu Foundation to boost their businesses or various innovations.

The seminar was facilitated by a lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Founder and a Chief-Executive-Officer of Mechro Limited, Alinafe Kaliwo. 

Kaliwo is also an ambassador of TEF program.

Kaliwo started the presentation by sharing his personal insights to the participants on how he found himself in entrepreneurship soon after graduating from the Polytechnic. He further explained how he got funds to boost his business from TEF programme.

 “The training was aimed at encouraging young aspirant entrepreneurs, innovators, and those that have business ideas to apply for Tony Elumelu Foundation for funds. Basically, as everyone knows the process of application for funding from TEF is long as such most young people got discouraged to continue with the process though they never know that they might be lucky to be selected and get $ 5,000 to boost their business,” he said.

He further urged the participants to look for business or innovation that will have an impact to the communities and bring a change as entrepreneurship is there to provide solutions to the problems that people are facing.

A final year student who is studying a Diploma in Electronics and Computer Engineering at the Polytechnic, Dean Magombo, said the seminar was helpful to him as he learnt some requirements for one to apply for funds to his business. 

The selected Applicants will receive a $5,000 non-refundable seed capital.

 Among others they will have an opportunity to have an access to mentors, top-related business training and sharing a global stage with other African entrepreneurs.

Last year at least 156,000 people around the African continent applied and only 1,000 applicants were selected by TEF where four applicants from Malawi were selected.


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