Student entrepreneurs receive 70m/- support from the UNDP initiative
DAR ES SALAAM: At least 20 student entrepreneurs from various universities across the country have been awarded over 70m/- to support the growth of their businesses following a business pitch competition held under the Youth Ignite Student Founders Fellowship – Phase Two.
The programme is implemented through the FUNGUO Programme under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Tanzania, with joint funding from the Government of the United Kingdom through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the European Union (EU) and the Government of Finland.
The competition brought together 30 students from different higher learning institutions, who presented innovative business ideas with positive social impact before a panel of judges. The initiative has been described as a key milestone in strengthening entrepreneurship and innovation among Tanzanian youth.
In addition to receiving cash grants, the student entrepreneurs also benefited from professional support, including business development training, mentorship and investor readiness preparation aimed at enabling them to attract future investment.
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Speaking to Daily News, Assistant Director of Science and Technology at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Dr Harun Makandi, said the programme aligns well with the government’s agenda to promote innovation, commercially viable research and entrepreneurship among university students.
On his part, Mr John Rutere, UNDP Tanzania Deputy Resident Representative, said the fellowship forms part of efforts to implement Tanzania Development Vision 2050, which aims to transform the country into an upper-middle-income economy through strategic investment in youth and their enterprises.
Development partners noted that investing in youth-led businesses is a critical driver of inclusive economic growth. Institutions such as Westerwelle Foundation Tanzania and StartHub Africa supported the programme by providing hands-on entrepreneurship training and pitch development sessions ahead of the competition.
Among the top winners, each received Sh6 million to scale up their businesses. One of them, Ms Herriet Nairumbe, founder of Niches Food Products based in Arusha, which focuses on value addition to chilli and fruit products, said the funding will help increase production and expand market reach.
Another beneficiary, Ms Irene George Ngatibigwa, co-founder of Eco Mushroom, said the support will enable her company to improve production infrastructure, create more jobs for young people and expand into wider markets after previously failing to meet large supply orders.
Overall, the Youth Ignite Student Founders Fellowship continues to nurture a new generation of young entrepreneurs capable of establishing and scaling sustainable businesses across sectors, including technology, agribusiness, climate solutions, manufacturing and social innovation, contributing to Tanzania’s economic growth.
