Promoting entrepreneurship key to solving our devt challenges

It can be frightening, with many people perceiving the risks involved not worth the efforts. Starting a business has always been sort of a ‘no go area’ for the majority of would be entrepreneurs. However, it is a known fact that entrepreneurship presents enormous opportunities for everyone willing to take the ‘risk’ and venture into business. Though self-employment is not attractive to some sections of people, especially young graduates, it gives the highest reward and satisfaction. This is especially when one’s business impacts other people’s lives through job-creation and community-oriented initiatives. Although most universities do not equip students with hands-on skills or those skills required by the job market, graduates and other youth should always think of ways to change the current trend, where most of them seek white collar jobs. It is worth noting that many a student still think that technical and vocational training is for school dropouts and academic ‘failures’. However, for any country to develop, it must have a strong cadre of blue collar personnel and entrepreneurs, particularly small-and medium businesses. That’s why many a government today is promoting skills development, innovation and entrepreneurship among the populace. While most students dream of becoming managers, CEOs or finance controllers in organisations, this could be a tall order to achieve after graduating from university because the job market is becoming more competitive than ever before. Failure to land the desired job most times leads some young graduates to lose hope of getting jobs. Many graduates fail to secure jobs because the skills they acquired at university do not match those needed on the job market. That’s why the government should be applauded for putting in place measures aimed at skilling Rwandans, especially the youth, such that they can ably contribute to national development. The Rwanda Workforce Development Authority is at the helm of this noble strategy and fruits are starting to be realised. Rwandan youth have benefitted from tailor-made technical skills advancement programmes, which will hopefully enable them to become innovative entrepreneurs. Emphasis on helping Rwanda’s youth to become better and successful entrepreneurs is spot-on, and one of the many paths towards making the country self-reliant. This will also widen the Rwanda’s tax base through which the country will earn more domestic revenues to support its economic development programmes. The writer is the head of media and customer relations at Rwanda Revenue Authority