State Rolls Out NYOTA Business Training to Boost Youth Enterprises

The government has launched the second phase of classroom-based business skills training under the NYOTA Project, targeting thousands of young entrepreneurs across the country.

In a statement released on Monday, Principal Secretary in the State Department for MSME Development, Susan Auma Mang’eni, said the programme is being implemented in 454 training centres spread across all the 290 constituencies.

The nationwide exercise has seen the deployment of more than 6,000 trainers to equip beneficiaries with practical business management skills as part of efforts to strengthen youth-led enterprises.

Mang’eni said the training builds on gains made during the initial mentorship phase, which recorded high uptake and promising outcomes among participants.

According to official data, about 97 per cent of beneficiaries who received the first tranche of startup capital participated in mentorship sessions, while 99 per cent of those mentored have since established businesses.

She said the current training is designed to bridge skills gaps identified during the mentorship phase and enhance the ability of young entrepreneurs to grow and sustain their ventures.

Only beneficiaries who successfully completed the mentorship phase have been invited to the training, which has been made mandatory. Attendance will determine eligibility for the next phase of the programme, including access to a second tranche of startup capital and further mentorship support.

The NYOTA Project is part of the government’s broader strategy to promote micro, small and medium enterprises as a key driver of economic growth and employment, particularly among the youth.

Officials say the rollout of the training underscores the State’s commitment to building sustainable enterprises through structured support and capacity development.