OM launches initiative for Entrepreneurs

• By Confidente Reporter

Old Mutual Namibia, in collaboration with Launch Namibia, the Financial Literacy Initiative (FLI), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Accelerator Lab, on Tuesday, launched Sustainable Economic and Empowerment Drive (SEED) an initiative aimed at improving financial education in organizations that contribute to Namibia’s SMME sector’s growth.

Speaking at the occasion, Mufaro Nesangano, Old Mutual Head of Communication and Old Mutual Foundation Manager said the initiative is earmarked for Windhoek, Keetmanshoop and Oshakati and would be rolled out to towns in all 14 regions of Namibia in the near future.

SEED targets entrepreneurs in the field of Technology, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Education, Finance, Construction and Retail.

Marketing and Communications Executive at Old Mutual, Ashante Manetti, said the OM SEED is a program which focuses on key areas through its Social Responsibility Framework.

This centers on Education and Skills Development, Financial Wellbeing and Community Development.

Manetti said that OM is obligated to empower entrepreneurs that contribute to the Namibian SMME sector.

Ndalipale Kwedhi (21), young entrepreneur that founded SK holdings said that the funding and training will help keep her business in operation.

Kwedhi who is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Logistics and Supply Chain management at the University of Science and Technology has three employees whom she says assist her in realizing her business objectives.

Old Mutual Namibia and its partners are set to empower 180 small grassroots businesses by providing training in financial sustainability, business ethics, and sustainable business practices.

There are sixty participants selected at each town, twenty of these will be chosen to pitch to a panel of three judges.

The three winners will be chosen in each town and receive N 000 to help them grow their businesses.

Launch Namibia, a business platform created to promote entrepreneurship in the country its Founder Tom Shilongo said the initiative aims at encouraging cooperation and bringing together start-ups and SMEs with pertinent players from the public, commercial, and government sectors to create projects that will support the expansion of these firms.

“Launch Namibia conceptualizes and supports Corporate Social Responsibility programs inside the ecosystem of entrepreneurship”, he explained.