NBC, VETA launch major youth skills drive
DAR ES SALAAM: The National Bank of Commerce (NBC), in partnership with the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA), has launched a vocational training scholarship programme aimed at strengthening youth employability and supporting Tanzania’s broader economic development agenda.
Dubbed the “NBC Wajibika Scholarship,” the initiative reflects a joint commitment by the two institutions to complement government efforts to expand employment opportunities, particularly for young people. The programme seeks to equip beneficiaries with practical, market-relevant skills while also integrating them into formal financial systems and entrepreneurship support structures.
The launch at NBC’s Head Office in Dar es Salaam, brought together senior executives from both institutions, including NBC Managing Director Theobald Sabi and VETA Director General Anthony Kasore.
Under the first phase of implementation, NBC has committed 150m/- to sponsor 588 students. The selected beneficiaries will undergo short-term vocational training across multiple technical and service-oriented disciplines. These include electrical installation, mechanical engineering, construction, hospitality, and tourism services, as sectors identified as key drivers of employment creation and economic productivity.
The training will be conducted over a period of three to six months at designated VETA colleges in Morogoro (Kihonda) and Mwanza. According to the programme design, these institutions were selected based on regional demand for skilled labour and their capacity to deliver competency-based training aligned with labour market needs.
Beyond technical training, the scholarship includes a financial inclusion and entrepreneurship component. All beneficiaries will be enrolled in NBC’s “Kua Nasi” account programme, which is intended to provide access to formal banking services. In addition, participants will be connected to NBC Business Club platforms designed to support entrepreneurship development and business skills enhancement.
Speaking at the launch, Mr Sabi noted that the initiative is structured to deliver more than academic certification. He noted that the primary objective is to develop a skilled workforce capable of actively contributing to national economic growth. He highlighted that youth unemployment remains a pressing challenge, particularly in a country where more than 70 percent of the population is under the age of 35.
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He added that the programme is designed to transition young people from job seekers into job creators by equipping them with practical skills and linking them to financial and entrepreneurial ecosystems.
On his part, Mr. Kasore commended NBC for its contribution, stating that the sponsorship significantly supports VETA’s annual target of training 120,000 students. He noted that VETA has already enrolled over 101,000 trainees, and the addition of 588 sponsored students strengthens ongoing national efforts to expand access to vocational education.
He further called on other stakeholders in both the public and private sectors to adopt similar initiatives, stressing that investment in vocational training directly translates into community development and improved livelihoods.
Mr Kasore also confirmed that the initial regional focus on Morogoro and Mwanza aligns with labour market demand, with plans in place to extend the programme to additional regions in subsequent phases.
The launch of the NBC Wajibika Scholarship is widely viewed as a significant example of collaboration between financial institutions and public training bodies. It underscores a growing recognition that sustainable economic development requires coordinated investment in skills development, financial inclusion, and youth empowerment to address structural employment challenges in Tanzania.
