A brief Overview
In 2020, the President of Uganda H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni launched the Youth4Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Facility (Y4BF). The programme was developed by UNDP to address the development challenge of youth unemployment in Uganda.
Y4BF was designed to respond to the effects of COVID-19 and beyond by driving social and economic transformation. This facility has been implemented through the combination of innovation, creating jobs and fostering entrepreneurship by supporting access to an integrated mix of finance products, business management skills and market access to young women and men entrepreneurs and youth-owned micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Makerere University, being the oldest and biggest University in Uganda, is uniquely positioned to be a hub of many youth innovations through end-of-year course research projects. Together with UNDP, Makerere will showcase a number of youth innovations and youth start-ups which have successfully made the transition from research to commercial enterprises.
Through this exhibition, Makerere hopes to create viable forward and backward linkages that will facilitate the creation of jobs and foster entrepreneurship by supporting access to an integrated mix of finance products, business management skills and market access to young women and men entrepreneurs and youth-owned MSMEs.
Since its humble beginning in 1922, Makerere University has been able to transform communities and societies through its wealth of human capital, numerous research outcomes and technological innovations that have served Uganda, East Africa, Africa and the world at large.
Makerere and her alumni have taken towards Innovations and Enterprise over the last 100 years.
The Youth and Innovation Expo 2023 will bring on board a number of activations from its sponsors, Makerere@100 partners, University Internal and External partners such as MTN Uganda, Stanbic Uganda, Bank of Uganda, Absa Bank, Bank of Uganda, Parliament of Uganda, DFCU Bank, Centenary Group, Standard Chartered Bank to mention but a few.
Makerere University has also curated a very engaging program for the two-day Youth and Innovation Expo, the program, directed by Mr. Maurice Mugisha will include an opening ceremony and a panel which will be held under the theme, “Creating opportunities for Uganda’s Young People: Moving from rhetoric to action” and five master classes.
The Youth Innovation Expo will take place on 6th – 7th October 2023 under the topic “Fostering Innovations for Uganda’s Transformation & Development”
The 2023 Youth Innovation Expo was launched on 25th April 2023 in Council Room – Frank Kalimuzo Teaching Facility Makerere University by Mrs. Lorna Magara (Chair of the Makerere University Council).Makerere University has partnered with UNDP & MTN Uganda in organizing this event.
The Masterclasses will be held under the following themes;
- Youth and Climate action: Opportunities for youth engagement in climate action.
- The job market of the future: The skills and innovations needed in an unpredictable world.
- Monetizing your innovation: The journey to your 100th customer.
- Career paths: The best career path is not always a linear one
- Fit for finance: Experiences from unlocking finance for youth enterprise and innovation
The two-day event will consist of a very comprehensive, insightful, and engaging program with curated performances from the School of Performing Arts and Film, a showcase of student innovations, exhibitions of Innovations turned enterprises from the Youth4Business program led by UNDP to mention but a few.
