Innovate and be patriotic, Balaam tells university students

Minister of State for Youth Affairs Balaam Barugahara has advised Makerere University business students to always be innovative and patriotic if they are to succeed in their entrepreneurial journey.

Delivering the keynote address at the official opening of the second Uganda Entrepreneurship Congress and Student Expo 2024 at the University of Kampala on October 31, Barugahara said innovation was crucial to ensuring multi-level development for businesses.

“Leverage these three essential elements of a successful entrepreneur, including succeeding with the levers of the digital age, leadership and management, and inspiring, building and overcoming challenges,” he said.

The Youth Minister stated that to thrive in the digital age, students should be interested in various online learning platforms, instead of spending most of their time on useless things on social media, they should also explore accessing the global market through social media and e-commerce and finance technology improving operations, and adapt, innovate and stay ahead.

“As an entrepreneur, have a clear vision and effective communication, be disciplined in management and organized, and develop a high sense of emotional intelligence and strong relationships. Start small, dream big, understand your market and customer needs, surround yourself with mentors, grow sustainably, putting quality first,” he said.

He added: “Young entrepreneurs, you are the future architects of Uganda. Embark on this journey with determination and a desire to learn visionary leadership.”

With Uganda’s population providing demographic opportunities, Mr. Barugahara said entrepreneurship can: create jobs and income, empower communities, and drive innovation and opportunity.

The two-day Uganda Entrepreneurship Congress and Student Expo 2024 organized by the College of Business Management Sciences (Mak-CoBAMS) takes place from Thursday to Friday under the theme: Entrepreneurship as a Catalyst for Inclusive Growth.

In his speech during the event, the university’s vice-chancellor, prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, in a speech delivered by Professor Edward Baale, Director of Mak-CoBAMS, said the conference, which will culminate in the exhibition on Friday, will provide students with a platform to showcase what they are learning and put into action.

“We have established research centers at the University. We are building solid partnerships and internationalization is taking place. When our students innovate, their ideas will not die. Thanks to UniPod, we will build the next generation of innovators,” he said.

He added: “Entrepreneurship is crucial as we face the critical challenge of unemployment. But we also have a problem of insufficient implementation. South Korea has moved from a low-income economy to a higher-income economy, and Uganda can do the same.”

A change in the way of thinking, said prof. Nawangwe, is a key attribute of a successful entrepreneur.