Bank equips 200 youth with business skills

Lira. At least 200 youth across the country have received financial literacy training from Centenary Bank in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) under the Youth Entrepreneurship Facility (YEF).
The youth received experiential and hands-on training in costing, budgeting, managing businesses, book keeping, and marketing, among others, to enable them turn their energy and ideas into business opportunities.
The training took place last week at Adekokwok Sub-county headquarters in Lira District.

The national coordinator for the ILO - YEF facility, Mr Robert Mawanda, told Daily Monitor on phone on Friday that acquisition of this knowledge would help the youth boost their businesses.
“With this training we believe the youth will be able to grow their businesses and overcome challenges therein,” he added.
The youth operate businesses such as dairy processing, saloons, boutiques, furniture shops, boda-bodas, retail shops and mobile money kiosks, among others. Some of the groups that benefited from the training include: Youth After School Initiative from Kawempe, Omizu Youth Group, Yot Kom Kwo Youth and Kacel Watweno Village Saving group all from Arua. Others were from Nebbi, Lira and Mbale districts.

The chief manager corporate affairs and communications, Centenary Bank, Ms Allen Ayebare, said the programme is run in collaboration with ILO to reach out to youth countrywide.
“Youth segment is one of Centenary Bank’s focus areas and is part of Centenary Bank’s corporate social responsibility financial literacy programmes,” she said.
Centenary Bank Lira branch manager, Mr Samuel Ekadu presided over the function.
The programme that started in 2012, has trained more than 1,000 youth entrepreneurs countrywide.

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