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Innovation best way to create jobs, KCB tells varsity students

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KCB hosted the students to an innovators forum at the university’s Chandaria Business Innovation and Incubation Centre to drive its agenda for youth employment, days before the deadline for the registration its entrepreneurship reality show, KCB Lion Den. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Kenya Commercial Bank #ticker:KCB has urged university students to use their entrepreneurial skills to create jobs as part of reducing the high levels of employment in the country.

The banker said by tapping on their abilities, passions and interests, students stand a better chance of succeeding in business.

“The development of any entrepreneurial activity enhances the country’s economy, competitiveness and contributes to the creation of new job opportunities which is a key route to achieving economic growth,” said KCB head of channels for retail banking, Dennis Njau at the Kenyatta University week a week ago.

KCB hosted the students to an innovators forum at the university’s Chandaria Business Innovation and Incubation Centre to drive its agenda for youth employment, days before the deadline for the registration its entrepreneurship reality show, KCB Lion Den.

The bank has invested Sh50 billion in 2jiajiri, its flagship programme to offer technical skills training for young people between the age of 18 and 35 years. Under the initiative, the youth are also helped them formalise their enterprises to achive their potential.

The programme started in 2016 and has so far benefitted more than 12,255 youth, by sharpening their financial literacy and technical skills.

This year, it has targeted 10,000 youths drawn from agribusiness, beauty, construction and automotive engineering sectors spread across technical training institutions in the country.

Youth unemployment in the country stands at 22.2 per cent, the highest in the region, according to the UN Human Development Index report released last year.

It is one of the biggest threats to the country’s status as the regional economic power.