NMB pledges support on innovation initiatives

TANGA: NMB Bank has said it will continue to support innovation initiatives in the country.

The bank’s Northern Zone Manager, Mr Ladislaus Baraka, said at the opening of the education, skills, and innovation exhibitions here that they will help to foster the drive for continuous development and advancement of innovation in the country.

“As a bank, alongside sponsoring the event, we provide a special platform to welcome youths on innovation and development of creative projects and we have been funding such initiatives through the NMB Sandbox Environment platform,” he said on Monday.

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The innovation week was graced by the Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Prof Adolf Mkenda on Monday.

“We have a great platform, the NMB Sandbox, which offers a good opportunity for innovation. We are ready to collaborate with the Ministry to ensure that innovation drives economic development in this country,” he said.

Prof Mkenda stated that the government is in the process of establishing 100 vocational training schools across the country to enable Tanzanian youth to either become self-employed or gain employment through the skills acquired from these institutions.

The Deputy Minister from the Prime Minister’s Office for Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disabilities, Mr Patrobas Katambi, mentioned that the world is currently undergoing significant changes, particularly in the fields of science and technology, skills, and innovation.

Thus, it’s time for Tanzanian youth to keep up with these changes.

Additionally, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Prof Carolyne Nombo said that 27 students have won higher education skill and innovation competitions and that a process will be undertaken to select three students from different fields to participate in regional and international competitions in early 2025.

The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Culture, and Sports, Ms Husna Sekiboko, emphasized that innovations discovered in various parts of the country should be developed into practical applications to benefit the community economically.