The event was graced by the Vice President of Uganda Jessica Alupo and State Minister for Youth, Sara Mateke, bank executives, the press and teams of members from the various participating fraternities. The event was held under the theme “Empowering the job creators of tomorrow with the main focus on Agriculture, Business Innovation and IT Skilling”.
The National Schools Championship is Stanbic Bank’s flagship education development initiative aimed at broadening participants’ abilities in applying business principles to develop start-ups that can earn them a future income and become all-round citizens.
The event attracted many key stakeholders that ensured the event was a success. The partners included Roofings Group, Airtel, Uganda Christian University, and Us The International University of East Africa.
The NSC programme is about imparting useful knowledge that can help unleash a sustained spirit of self-initiative and enterprise against a backdrop of limited formal jobs and high youth unemployment.
The Guest of honour, Jessica Alupo, the Vice President of Uganda applauded the competition and also hinted at government efforts at creating jobs for the youth and supporting economic growth.
The participants were grouped into four major categories that included.
STARTUP GROW CATEGORY
This category comprised first time participants in the contest. The schools in this category included;
Kyebambe Girls, Kigumba Intensive s.s, King’s College Budo and Busoga High School.
Kyebambe Girls Secondary School emerged overall winners with their “Black Soldier Fly Larvae project” The project is aimed at producing maggots that can be used for nutritious animal and poultry feeds.
They were followed by Busoga High School from the Eastern Region taking the 1st runners-up spot with their organic pesticide project. Kings College Buddo scooped the third position with the “shoe vera” project and finally Kigumba Progressive (3rd position) with their Bakery Business.
“With the COVID-19 pandemic still looming and schools being closed, skilling is key”
– Mrs Anne Juuko Stanbic Bank Uganda Chief Executive
BIZ GROW CATEGORY
The Biz Grow category features former competition winners who are still pursuing a High School Education.
Otino Waa Comprehensive School from Lira district came first in the BizGrow challenge category with their Otino Waa Honey project.
Followed by the Multi Soapers from Kyenjojo S.S (1st runners up), Mbale Secondary School with the Urban Taste and take away (2nd runners up) and Muyenga High School with the Urban Farming Consultancy project in 3rd place.
TEACH GROW CATEGORY
Owing to the fact that the education sector was severely hit by the emergence of the pandemic. A number of teachers resorted to alternative forms of generating income. Therefore, the ‘TeachGrow’, the category was created this year specifically to target head-teachers and the teaching staff in general.
Teacher Bwambale Samuel was one of the contestants who emerged winner of the Teach Gro Category with his Penny Medical Care project. A medical facility that has helped reduce child and mother mortality through the provision of affordable maternity services to disadvantaged mothers.
He was followed by Teacher Simon Masember with the MAV Breeding Farms (1st runners up) project and Alum Susan (2nd runners up) with the Hidden Treasure food project.
ALUM GROW CATEGORY
Nshuti Elve, from I-tech Africa, won in the “AlumGrow” category dedicated to former students who wish to participate in the championships.
He was followed by Natalie Imenyo a crotchety From Natalies Applique as the first runners up, Samuel Abaho from Mkozi (2nd runners up) and Ajeek Consultancy Firm (3rd position)
In 2015, the leadership of Stanbic bank came up with the initiative and to date, The competition has attracted more than 60, 000 students from more than 100 schools in more than 100 districts.
IUEA takes great pride in Entrepreneurship and goes the extra mile to award various innovators and young entrepreneurs with fully-funded scholarships and guidance where need be. Interested in Innovation and Business, visit us in Kansanga and have a look at our sensational Innovation Lab.
