Janet Museveni Endorses UNDP-Backed Youth Innovation Drive

In a significant stride towards boosting youth entrepreneurship and innovation in Uganda, Janet Museveni, the Minister of Education and Sports, acknowledged the vital support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in this endeavor. During a noteworthy meeting that included top representatives from the UNDP and Makerere University Council, the Minister discussed the transformative UniPod initiative.

The session, featuring prominent figures such as Ahunna Eziakonwa of the UNDP, Elsie Attafuah, UNDP’s outgoing Resident Representative in Uganda, and Lorna Magara from Makerere University Council, centered on the UniPod initiative. This innovative project, a collaborative effort between the UNDP and Makerere University, is designed to foster idea development and entrepreneurship among Ugandan youth.

UniPod serves as a dynamic space, accessible to both university students and the broader public, aimed at cultivating business ideas and encouraging entrepreneurship, especially those emerging from the informal sector. The initiative seeks to bridge the existing gap in business ideation, thereby bolstering the entrepreneurial spirit among young Ugandans.

Janet Museveni, who is also the First Lady, addressed the current trends in youth innovation, emphasizing the need for a shift from merely replicating existing business ideas to creating solutions that tackle fundamental societal challenges. This approach is expected to not only solve critical issues but also generate sustainable economic growth.

She also pointed out the lack of young Africans' involvement with grassroots issues. Museveni stressed the importance for university students to delve into understanding and addressing the challenges their communities face, utilizing resources from initiatives like UniPod to make a tangible impact.

By expressing her appreciation for the UNDP's collaboration with Uganda, Museveni highlighted the importance of such partnerships in guiding the youth towards focusing on local problems, ensuring their efforts are both relevant and impactful. The UniPod initiative, championed by this partnership, is seen as a crucial element in fostering meaningful innovation and progress, reflecting the combined objectives of the Ugandan government and the UNDP.

The meeting ended with an emphasis on encouraging young people to engage actively in grassroots challenges, a key step towards fostering innovation and national development.