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From Africa to the world
Young people in Africa now have a reason to smile courtesy of Kenya’s National carrier, Kenya Airways (KQ) and @iBizAfrica Incubation Centre Strathmore University.
Starting today their grand dreams and innovative business solutions will have a chance to be nurtured, tried and tested and ultimately go a long way in creating employment opportunities for youth through KQ’s Fahari Innovation Challenge.
This is after the two organisations joined hands to try and solve one of Africa’s biggest problems – unemployment – by supporting innovative business solutions by young people using tech innovations to resolve specific problems that affect businesses.
Joining forces for good
Speaking during the MoU signing ceremony the Director @iBizAfrica Incubation Centre, Dr. Joseph Sevilla, said supporting local and regional talent was close to their heart.
“Our partnership with KQ for the second time is an indication of our dedication towards supporting the youth and businesses. As a Centre that will soon be celebrating a decade of existence, we look forward to assist KQ in identifying local and regional talent that may exist within the broader youth community and Start-Up ecosystem. This partnership will aid young entrepreneurs better understand the aviation industry and bring about creative ideas or solve problems that businesses may experience.”
KQ and @iBizAfrica Incubation Centre will provide technical guidance around accuracy of innovation and entrepreneurial information. The national carrier will also go a step further and provide internship opportunities to both undergraduate and postgraduate students within the university and collaborate in research projects as well as co-creation with Startups and SME’s within the Centre.
Mr. Julius Thairu-Ag. Chief Commercial & Customer Officer at Kenya Airways said the airline was proud to make young people’s dreams take off.
“As an Airline, collaboration is at the heart of what we do and this partnership with @iBizAfrica in the education sector is a great step towards making an impact in the ecosystem. Academic organizations and institutions are critical when it comes to developing talent. We have to be innovative and do things differently because customer needs and wants are constantly shifting and changing and institutions are constantly providing us with different views of doing things differently.”
Fostering innovation and investment in Research and Development
African economies have been under increasing socioeconomic pressure due to diminishing resources, unemployment, changing demographic trends, rising demand for goods and services, and emerging sustainability and security concerns.
African governments, industry players and education institutions have been exploring research and innovation as an engine for stimulating growth in line with Sustainable Development Goal 9, which underscores the importance of fostering innovation and investment in Research and Development to address these challenges.
“As we progress we look forward to partnering in developing students’ capacity in areas such as design challenge as well as in skills and leadership areas that will benefit both organizations,” added Mr Thairu.
Through capacity building forums, training, and initiatives such as the Kenya Airways innovation challenge in collaboration with @iBizAfrica, Qhala, and SNDBX, many entrepreneurs now have an opportunity to grow their startups to contribute to economic growth and address the challenge of unemployment.
Think you are smart and innovative? Apply Today
@iBizAfrica incubation Centre has over the years created an enabling environment that builds on the potential of the youth to develop innovative solutions and businesses’ that work for the common good in society.
So far the Incubation Centre has provided over 400 startup companies with training, advisory, mentorship, coaching, networking opportunities, access to seed capital and investors.
Innovative individuals and companies that can create solutions that can interface with the aviation industry from the identified angles of the organizational spectrum are the right candidates for the KQ Innovation Challenge. Eligibility is open to all, including individuals, partnerships and corporations that serve or would like to serve the aviation enterprise or industry.
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