YOUNG PEOPLE PURSUE SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION
In a closing youth month commemoration, Buffalo City Metro hosted Youth Economic Emancipation Seminar to empower young people on economic opportunities provided by Government and various entities.

Stakeholders that attended and presented during the seminar include, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Office of the Premier, Provincial Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC), Department of Economic Development Environmental Affairs (DEDEA), Tourism, Construction Industry Development Board, and the Eastern Cape Development Corporation.

During the event, the youth development stakeholders were given an opportunity to present, educate youngsters about their services. Young people were also given a chance to ask questions concerning employment and entrepreurship.

Outlining the purpose of the program, BCM Acting Youth Manager Nandipha Zikalala said: “This programme seeks to develop young people to be economically active by exposing them to information on various programmes and opportunities in the entrepreneurship space."

"This is a platform for young people to engage and acquire skills for them to create

employment instead of waiting to be employed so to transform their livelihoods and communities they coming from economically," said Zikalala.

"This is a platform for young people to engage and acquire skills for them to create employment instead of waiting to be employed so to transform their livelihoods and communities they coming from economically," she said.

During the Seminar, BCM Executive Mayor Councillor Xola Pakati encouraged young people to take advantage of the opportunities made available by the City from bursaries to events sponsoring.

He said: " It is important to indicate that our City also supports a number of young black businesses through business skills training and we also assist with implements for business."

"Our Municipality is also active in the township economy with hawker stalls built throughout key areas of the Metro," said Cllr Pakati.

"We have partnered with the Youth NPO called Harambee to ensure youth from townships and rural areas are equipped with skills to find jobs or self employment," he said.

"Supporting youth employment and self-employment is key to our efforts to reduce unemployment and inequality."

"We are confident that the stakeholders that are here will provide relevant and critical inputs that will take us on an upward developmental path," he added.

One of the young people who attended the seminar, Yonda Nqabe thanked the Municipality, saying “I have gained so much information from the serminar, im very happy to be part of such events where we meet with stakeholders as young people to be equipped, encourage and enlightened us about opportunities of employment and entrepreneurship."

2022-07-01