Seize the opportunityHaukongo urges youth to be innovative The third consortium launched in the north through the Affirmative Repositioning movement, is inspiring youth to create their own jobs and wealth. An initiative of the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) to establish business groupings in all 14 regions to give impetus to overcoming economic and social challenges has led to the launching of the Omusati Business Consortium. Speaking at the launch held recently, Nathaniel Haukongo, a business consultant and the coordinator for the small business development centre at the University of Namibia, urged young people to find opportunities and see solutions in challenges they face.
“A real entrepreneur is the one who does not see problems, but the one who sees opportunities. Many businesses were registered, but owners are only talking about challenges and not opportunities. If you have a viable business plan it will open any door on which you knock,” Haukongo said.
He told the youth that a business person that only sees problems will not go anywhere no matter how great the business idea is.
“Before starting a business you need to formulate a proper business plan, conduct economic research and have a monitoring strategy. Then you develop a consolidated strategic plan for all the other documents. Fragments of ideas will not take you anywhere,” he advised.
The Omusati Business Consortium 103 (Pty) Limited in Oshikuku is another branch of the AR movement''s youth empowering projects. Haukongo added that from past experiences as a business consultant, many people rush to register companies but they do nothing after acquiring business registration documents.
Praising the AR consortium idea, Haukongo hailed the project as a way of rescuing the youth from the social challenges they encounter. He said this can only be achieved if the youth involved in consortiums take marketing and economic research seriously and venture into economically viable business ventures. “Money will never be a challenge or a problem if you have a viable and marketable business plan.”
Youth activist Job Amupanda told trustees and founders of the consortium to make use of Chinese business research.
“Chinese people listen to what people in the community need and then they attend to those problems. Let us start thinking creatively and start solving our own problems on our own,” Amupanda said.
He also said the concept of establishing business consortiums in all the regions was inspired by the honest goal of assisting young entrepreneurs to have access to business opportunities through collective capacities.
Consortiums will incorporate entrepreneurs who are able to assist one another in realising their economic freedom through various projects and tenders from the government.
“This is a collective capacity which will generate more opportunities. Consortiums have the capacity which will directly benefit the youth entrepreneurs and others who will benefit in terms of employment. Let us be creative and know what our community needs are,” Amupanda urged.
Consortium 103 has 11 trustees and Josef Alweendo is the chairperson. Oshana already launched their Consortium 101 in January this year followed by 102 in Ohangwena.
ILENI NANDJATO