 Ms Lindiwe Kunene with Mr Maka Tounkara (left) and Mr Chewe Mulenga both from Zambia. |
School of Management, Information Technology and Governance academic Ms Lindiwe Kunene recently formed part of a delegation of young African entrepreneurs, researchers and government officials who participated in the Africa Youth Entrepreneurship Workshop in Nairobi, Kenya.
The workshop, organised by Japan’s United Nations University in collaboration with the Kenyan government and the African Development Bank, was part of the 6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).
The forum was themed: “Catalysing the Next Generation of Africa’s Youth Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Industrialisation.” It focused on promoting sustainable industrialisation in Africa. Workshop participants contributed to an entrepreneurship capacity-building programme for Africa’s sustainable industrialisation by drawing up a possible road map for its development and implementation.
Kunene described being part of the workshop as intense, but she is grateful to get the opportunity to be part of a strategy formulation, in collaboration with young entrepreneurs across Africa.
‘It was wonderful to be part of a group of people who are doing phenomenal things. The people chosen were young researchers from all over Africa - including a young gentleman from Esikhawini,’ she said.
Kunene added that she is proud to have represented UKZN at such an important gathering, which comes at a time when the African continent is experiencing rapid socio-economic growth.
‘The outcomes of the strategy formulation were presented to leadership at TICAD and we have laid out a plan of action going forward. I am glad my UKZN is going to be part of this journey, it will not be easy but we must try, this is our Africa!’ she said.
Thandiwe Jumo