By Mosa Maoeng
MASERU
Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (LUCT) has hosted its first Limkokwing Entrepreneurs’ Day with the mandate to prepare students for the corporate world and to give those from disadvantaged backgrounds an opportunity to have income as to overcome financial constraints.
The project was also mandated to instill and enhance the entrepreneurial skills and bond among students.
LUCT Senior Manager Academic Administration ‘Mateboho Moorosi indicated that the aim of the Entrepreneurs’ Day is to help students and alumni fulfill the expectation to create their own businesses and hence create jobs. “Limkokwing trains students to be entrepreneurs, by doing so we are capacitating them to become job creators and in essence, we are putting the future in their hands. We also encourage them to employ other alumni so they contribute positively into the future,” she said.
This will be a monthly event where LUCT endeavors to reinforce corporate connections among its alumni. Moorosi urged the students to utilize the skills, ideas and advises that they have reaped during their academic years as well as from the private sectors that took part in the entrepreneurs’ day. She cautioned that they do not need millions to start businesses and that they should start small.
Also present at the event were the Basotho Enterprise Development Corporation (BEDCO), Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC), Vodacom Lesotho (VCL), First National Bank (FNB), Lesotho Post Bank and Econet Telecom Lesotho.
While presenting about BEDCO’s mandate in creating job opportunities, BEDCO Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Access to Finance Expert ‘Mahalieo Nyanguru highlighted that BEDCO offers capacity building for businesses to support entrepreneurs. She said they also offer incubation for start-ups to facilitate sustainable growth. Nyanguru said BEDCO supports Basotho by making sure that their products are exposed to the market, saying they have also established youth programs, notably the Business Plan Competition (BPC) which injects M100, 000 capital to winning businesses and the recently launched Bacha Entrepreneurship Project (BEP) which is currently open for applications until June 30.
On the other hand, LNDC Investment Promotion Officer Phomotso Sematlane mentioned that LNDC increases income, generates employment and also retains and expands investments. “LNDC links entrepreneurs with buyers inside and outside the country and also offers supply chains and finances to support businesses,” she noted, further urging students to never hesitate to start their own businesses.
For his part, LUCT Vice Chancellor Advocate Tefo Macheli said LUCT came in Lesotho as a game changer in the sector of technology, grooming students to start businesses in the creative industry. “LUCT’s Key Strategic Goals 2022/27 aim to activate technology in the country and so we want our students to create jobs through technology. I urge the private sector to come together to unleash the entrepreneurship power that is within Basotho youth. This is not just a mileage for the university but for every Mosotho,” he concluded.