The recent introduction of a training programme for budding entrepreneurs, through Rwanda Business Development Centre, could not have come at a better time.

It comes at a time when Rwanda is in the global limelight for her focused reforms that have drastically improved doing business in the country in the recent past.

These reforms would not serve their intended purpose without a business community that is well equipped with the necessary tools to advance business growth.

Therefore, initiatives such as the new entrepreneurship course, come in handy, and will go a long way in ensuring that we make the most from the latest business reforms.

That the new programme is not restricted to a particular age group represents an opportunity for everyone, interested in starting up or moving their businesses to another level, to acquire the skills they need to realise their dream.

Presently, one of the main challenges of our education system is that, sometimes, syllabi are not tailored to the needs of the labour market, and many of the students are not trained to become job-creators. That’s why we urge those responsible for the new entrepreneurship programme to impart skills that are responsive to the market needs.

However, it is important that entrepreneurial skills are integrated in our broader education system as a way of creating a critical pool of entrepreneurs this country needs to achieve its laid out development agenda. Business incubation, too, needs to be emphasised.

The existence of an entrepreneurial class in a given population is critical for jobs creation, broadening of tax base, growth of industrial base, sound private sector, among others. We have seen many of our Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) collapse, or fail to take off simply because the owners lack viable business plans and can hardly break even. Entrepreneurial skills will help reverse the trend.

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