Every year, thousands of students graduate from colleges and universities armed with qualifications that proclaim they are fit to be business executives in the corporate world. Unfortunately, there is no corresponding increase in the number of businesses that can competitively attract and retain the graduates. The result: joblessness and young professionals settling in careers they have little or no interest in.

With the mission of playing a part in the University’s vision of being a leading entrepreneurial university in the region, the University’s Student Enterprise Program (SEP) partnered with Linking Business to Life Initiative for an afternoon session on 23rd July 2010 where the students were given talks on starting and growing their own businesses.

Alumnus Oscar Kimani, a young entrepreneur with interests in tourism and information technology and the co-founder of Linking Business to Life Initiative addressed the students, sharing with the budding entrepreneurs lessons he has learnt from running his three year old businesses. Success as an entrepreneur depends on the ability to clearly identify a market need, and to creatively satisfy it with passion that reaches to the heart of the customer.

Opportunities are everywhere. The challenges for entrepreneurs is to identify opportunities that can be exploited, with a substantial and growing target markets and to ensure there are market trends in favour of their businesses.

SEP identifies the promising entrepreneurs, brings them together in groups for networking and matches them with mentors who will advice on the right steps towards creating successful enterprises.

Linking business to Life initiative is developing young business minds in Africa through exposing the young entrepreneurs to firsthand experiences, information and training that will create the right mindset for success in business.

This initiative is currently operating in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Oscar founded it with Mr Gamuchirai Chituri, an Acumen Fund fellow currently in Kenya. Gamuchirai is the founder of Paruware Trust that nurtures young entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe.

The creation of the East African common market will expand opportunities for young entrepreneurs who in turn can drive the growth of the region through creating solutions for everyday needs.