Over 1,500 Makerere University students in the Department of Marketing and Management under the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) are prepared to showcase innovative ideas during the 3rd Annual Entrepreneurship Expo 2018.

During the press conference held on Monday, 8th October 2018, the The Principal CoBAMS Dr. Eria Hisali and sponsors called upon Government ministries, the business community, private sector, prospective partners, staff, alumni, students, media and the general public to come to Makerere University to on Friday, 12th October 2018 and take part in the Expo starting at 9:00am in the Freedom Square.

Dr. Peter Turyakira, Head of the Department of Marketing and Management said that the 3rd Annual Entrepreneurship Expo focusing on the theme, “Unlocking the student’s potential,” will offer students an opportunity to display what they learn in class. He added that the Expo would also be a platform for them to begin planning for life after university.

“In these Expos, students demonstrate to their colleagues and the general community that they can turn the theory learnt at the university into practice. The Entrepreneurship Expo is the first place where students learn about the tools they will use to turn an idea into a startup; grow a new venture or join an early stage venture,” said Dr. Turyakira.

He added that the Expo will be preceded by a Pakasa Forum in the CoBAMS Auditorium on Thursday, 11th October 2018 from 9:00am to 12:00pm and called upon students, staff and the entire public to attend both the Forum and the Expo.

Dr. Turyakira revealed that in order to minimize graduate unemployment in Uganda, the Department of Marketing and Management is setting up an Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre  aligned to Makerere University’s Vision: To be the leading institution for academic excellence and innovations in Africa.

“The Centre is envisioned to create a platform to expose both undergraduate and graduate students to the workplace environment, innovativeness, risk bearing, product development, business startup and management,” remarked Dr. Turyakira.

In his remarks, Dr. Eria Hisali said that activities such as the Expo enable the University to support Government in addressing issues regarding youth unemployment as it equips students with the practical skills needed to start up their own businesses.

According to Dr. Hisali, community engagement is one of core functions of the university and the Expo is one way of giving back to the community since it sensitizes people about starting up their own enterprises and being self-employed.

He thanked the sponsors of the Expo for playing a role in the nurturing of young student entrepreneurs and called for continuous support from them.

The New Vision is the main sponsor of this year’s Expo. Other sponsors include: Post Bank Uganda, Uganda Revenue Authority, Pride Microfinance Limited, Uganda Industrial Research Institute, United Bank of Africa, Eistein Rising Uganda and Business Development Service Providers Network.

Mr. Joseph Byaruhanga, the Marketing Officer, New Vision was glad that the 9th Pakasa Forum organized by New Vision will be held at Makerere University where different panelists will sensitize  students and community members on entrepreneurship skills.

Addressing journalists, Mr. Byaruhanga noted that the theme for the Expo is in line with Pakasa Forum’s objectives of exposing students’ abilities where young entrepreneurs display and promote their innovative ideas and businesses.

Dr. Cathy Mbidde who is the team leader explained that the Expo is mandatory for all students of entrepreneurship. She said that the best students will be awarded according to their performance and the best team will receive the Vice Chancellor’s Award, the second team will receive the Principal’s Award and the third team will receive the Dean’s Award.

Dr. Mbidde added that the College shall follow up the winners and is willing to allocate them space at the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre and nurture them to further develop their ideas.

Article by: Rachael Kanyi and Esther Joyce Nakibombo, Communication Volunteers-PR Office