The African Institute for Mathematics Sciences (AIMS) and Science Po hosted an annual conference on Bettering Entrepreneurial Training in Africa (BETAF) on May 25, focusing on entrepreneurship and innovation among university students.

The conference on entrepreneurial education and training featured prominent speakers in a panel discussion, mainly university lecturers, an entrepreneurship facilitator, a grid innovation and incubation hub from the University of Rwanda, and other key speakers.

Participants engaged in panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions to identify actionable solutions for improving entrepreneurial training in Africa.

Their collective expertise shed light on the importance of nurturing entrepreneurial talent and implementing effective training programmes to drive economic development in Africa.

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BETAF 2023 aimed to explore ways to better equip aspiring entrepreneurs through improved training and support mechanisms to increase the likelihood of students becoming successful entrepreneurs.

Speaking at the event, Prof Blaise Tchamba, Academic Director, AIMS Rwanda, said he hopes "entrepreneurial training will really address economic issues.”

Addressing the challenges of start-ups, Tchamba said it is very difficult to get a successful entrepreneur who never failed at some point, as failure is a part of the journey, adding that they learned from failure and then became successful.

Jean-Paul Mvogo, Research Program Coordinator for Science Po, noted, "Entrepreneurship development is a major challenge in Africa, as a large number of young Africans enter the job market but only a few of them manage to find decent jobs.”

"Entrepreneurship represents an interesting opportunity to create self-productive activities, as the population is expected to double, which will address the issue very quickly,” he said.

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Mvogo further recommended that the curriculum should be of high quality in terms of social skills and that young people should be trained early to have an entrepreneurial mind-set, in order to be able to face future challenges.

Dr Pascal Nyiringango, a lecturer at the University of Rwanda and a professional social entrepreneur, who is also a master trainer for new start-ups and the head of the Grid Innovation Hub and Incubation at the Center of Energy, suggested that an essential entrepreneur must possess certain qualities in order to thrive in the grid innovation space.

"They need to have prerequisite knowledge, be resilient, and have good skills providers in order to be installed well and deliver practical skills in the community,” he said.

Nyiringango further recommended that young people familiarise themselves with the internet, as it is a pillar for any young researcher.

Fabien Habimana, PhD, was among the panellists from the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) and addressed the issue of the specific skills and competencies essential for aspiring students in Rwanda to succeed in today’s competitive business landscape.

"The government of Rwanda is trying to leverage technology and digital platforms to provide remote training and support, particularly in rural and underserved areas so that everyone can access it,” he said.

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Habimana further recommended that the private sector should provide industrial attachments to young people so they can use their skills efficiently to avoid knowledge gained going astray.

Among the recognized trainees was Mediatrice Kampire, a data scientist at AIMS, who said, "Today’s lessons had a completely new impact, as it was not just words but rather real-life experiences.” She added, "I can now overcome the saving challenge, which was a long-term personal one.

"I must assess myself first and use my skills effectively, by taking it step by step I will be an inspiration too.”

BETAF 2023 brought together influential voices in the field of entrepreneurship who are committed to nurturing entrepreneurial talent in Africa.

Through collaborations, Rwanda and the continent can unlock its vast entrepreneurial potential, driving sustainable economic growth and prosperity for their people.