Nyota Project rolls out Phase 2 of business skills training

Youths at a past Nyota Project training /HANDOUT

The government has launched the second phase of classroom-based business skills training under the Nyota Project, with sessions taking place simultaneously across all 290 constituencies.

According to a media statement issued on Monday, the training has been rolled out in 454 mapped centres nationwide, marking a major step in the implementation of the project’s business support component.

“The second mandatory classroom training of the Nyota Project Business support component has officially kicked off this morning, with sessions taking place in 454 mapped centres in all the 290 constituencies across the country,” the statement said.

More than 6,000 trainers have been deployed to facilitate the sessions, targeting beneficiaries who have already completed the first phase of mentorship under the programme.

The training is mandatory and is aimed at equipping participants with practical business skills to help them strengthen and expand their enterprises.

Officials said beneficiaries invited to the sessions are those who successfully completed the initial mentorship programme, during which key business gaps were identified.

The current training seeks to address those gaps while enhancing the capacity of participants to manage and grow their businesses more effectively.

Participants are required to attend all sessions as a condition for progressing to the next phase of the project.

This includes eligibility for the disbursement of the second tranche of start-up capital and participation in a follow-up mentorship programme.

The nationwide rollout underscores the scale of the initiative, which is designed to support youth-led enterprises and promote entrepreneurship across the country.

The programme builds on the outcomes of the first phase, which combined financial support with structured mentorship.

During the initial phase, beneficiaries received the first tranche of start-up capital and were enrolled in a mentorship programme to guide them in setting up and running their businesses.

Data from the project indicates high levels of participation and uptake among the youth.

According to the release, 97 per cent of beneficiaries who received the initial funding took part in the mentorship sessions.

Further, 99 per cent of those engaged during the mentorship period had already established their businesses, pointing to early signs of success in the programme’s implementation.

The mentorship phase focused on practical guidance, including business planning, financial management and market access, helping participants translate funding into viable enterprises.

Officials say insights gathered during that phase informed the design of the current training, ensuring that it directly addresses the challenges faced by young entrepreneurs on the ground.

The Nyota Project is part of broader government efforts to tackle youth unemployment by promoting self-employment and enterprise development.

By combining financial support with training and mentorship, the programme seeks to create sustainable businesses that can generate income and employment opportunities.

The second phase of training is expected to further strengthen these enterprises by improving business skills, enhancing decision-making and increasing resilience in a competitive market environment.

Authorities have emphasised that compliance with all programme requirements remains critical to ensuring beneficiaries fully benefit from the initiative.

The next phase, which includes additional funding and continued mentorship, is expected to build on the progress already made, as the programme moves towards supporting the long-term growth and sustainability of youth-led businesses across the country.