The Regional Centre for Enterprise Development (RCED) has initiated a business mentorship campaign targeting 500 enterprises to promote entrepreneurial culture in the country. RCED, the enterprise development division of Inoorero University, is seeking to professionalise entrepreneurship through the programme by proving standards, ethics and guidelines.
Speaking during second graduation of business mentors of Inoorero University at Gracia Gardens today, Inoorero University’s Vice Chancellor Prof Henry Thairu said that the programme will bolster enterprise development in the country by nurturing growth- oriented start ups as well as supporting the existing sustainable businesses.
“We are also almost concluding plans to launch a practical entrepreneurship training programme for youths in tertiary education that will be modular based and hands on,” adding that the programme will help nurture enterprises into steady and sustainable ventures with significant returns to the economy.
The drive which will be done in partnership with the International Labor Organization’s-Youth Enterprise Facility (ILO-YEF) and the Professional Business Mentors Association (PBMA) is also propped up by the Danish Royal Danish Embassy whose role is to implement the mentorship programme.
RCED coordinator Daniel Huba said that the role of the trained mentors is to advise and provide technical support on growth opportunities in trying to uplift budding entrepreneurs in terms of finance and other support services.
“We believe that business mentorship is the last pillar of business development service provision to MSMEs. It is the glue to the interventions such as access to finance; market linkages; business skills development and legal framework development.”
RCED has watched over more than 70 mentee enterprises supported by RCED-trained business mentors flourish and able to turn losses into profits. Besides, it has developed five mentee case studies showing positive changes that have resulted from this intervention.
RCED said it supports the Micro and Small Enterprises (MSE) Bill 2011 being fronted by Mr F.T. Nyammo, the MP for Tetu constituency.
The Bill, which is in its second reading in Parliament, will provide a legislative framework for providing a viable business environment that has crucial pathways and breeding grounds for entrepreneurial culture.
“It is now generally accepted among many economies, that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are a key source of productivity, growth and job creation. This is not different in the Kenyan context.
It with the realization of the critical role played by this sector that has seen the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and Inoorero University liaise to support enactment of the MSE BILL 2011,” said Tetu MP, who is also the chancellor of Inoorero University.
RCED is currently partnering with other industry players such as the East Africa Business Council (EABC) and Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) to roll out the mentorship programme to the other East African States.
The Federation of Women Entrepreneur Associations (FEWA) is also a partner meant to offer county-based business mentorship programmes for women entrepreneurs and with the Youth Enterprise Development Fund to provide customized business mentorship programmes for the youth entrepreneurs.
With thirty-three business mentors graduating today, the tally of graduates goes to 58 who have successfully underwent the mentorship programme.
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