Commonwealth conference: Youth leaders ask government to fund young entrepreneurs

Youth leaders from 54 countries who are attending the ongoing Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference have adopted seven resolutions which will help to curb the increasing youth unemployment in their respective countries.

Some of resolutions include reforming the externalisation and offering incentives form of startup capital to youth entrepreneurs.

In a session moderated by the deputy speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah, youth leaders highlighted measures required to address rampant unemployment.

The youth agreed that not everything taught in schools corresponds with the required jobs skills.

They urged for vocational training in their respective countries which will help to enhance practical skills.

The Youth MP for Western Uganda Mwine Mpaka, noted that many decisions have been taken on behalf of the young people by leaders who don’t understand the issues of the youth.

“I think for us as young people, we have heard very many people taking decisions on our behalf without our participation. This time round, we are happy to have young people taking part in the discussion, ”he said.

The youth Mp Northern Uganda Oscar Omony said there is need to teach and train young people to become job creators not job seekers.

"Young people should be taught how to create jobs and how to be entrepreneurs,"he said.

In Uganda youth unemployment stands at 70% and many young people have been exploited by labour exporting firms.

The meeting resolved that respective countries should streamline externalisation of labour and enable youth seeking employment to look for an environment with safe working conditions.

Dr Fred Muhumuza, an economist, noted that government should not only license companies sending people out but should hold those foreign countries accountable so that safety of the people working in those countries is guaranteed.

Other resolutions passed relate to providing incentives in form of startup capital as well as being allocated a quarter of all jobs in government.