Zanaco Plc, Study Connect International in entrepreneurship partnership
By BUUMBA CHIMBULU
A partnership which will run a programme meant to develop a cohort of future business leaders as Zambia looks to build a solid private sector has been entered into between Zanaco Plc and Study Connect International.
Under this agreement, Zanaco Plc and Study Connect International will run a Kid’s MBA programme that will help to develop a cohort of future business leaders as Zambia looks to build a solid private sector that will create employment and wealth.
The KidsMBA which will run from December 13 to 23, targeting children between the ages of 11 to 15.
Zanaco is here to support the growth of every entrepreneur and we look forward to witnessing the positive impact of the KidsMBA, according to the banks Chief Executive Officer, Mukwandi Chibesakunda when commenting on the partnership
Ms Chibesakunda said Zanaco remained committed to support private sector growth.
This, she said, was evidenced by the bank’s business game show Kweza, a Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (SME) pitch competition that was currently running and is aimed at providing funding and offering capacity building to businesses.
“We are happy to partner with Study Connect International because we believe in the contribution that entrepreneurs can make towards the growth of our country.
“One of the best ways to support this potential is to instill the basics of entrepreneurship in our children while they are still young, not only as an alternative to being employed formally, but also to allow innovative business ideas to flourish,” she said.
And Study Connect International, Chief Executive Officer, Chilunji Dodwell, said the KidsMBA programme would enable children to start thinking as entrepreneurs in a structured way.
“This is a perfect programme for children in Zambia. Many of our children will become entrepreneurs and therefore we are giving them a head start. It opens up children’s minds to think beyond ‘finishing school to get employed’ but rather getting educated to run their own businesses,” Ms Dodwell said.
Ms Dodwell said the partnership with Zanaco was critical because the bank had been active the entrepreneurship space.
“The KidsMBA programme teaches kids about entrepreneurial skills and financial literacy, we chose to partner with Zanaco due to the bank’s involvement in financial literacy programmes and support towards the growth of entrepreneurs”.
During this period, the children will be equipped with a great head start in business through the practical training programme in the areas of business ideas, business naming and logos among others.
