Over 44,700 young people who enrolled with NSSF as university students have saved over shs35.5 billion over the last 10 years, Managing Director Patrick Ayota has revealed.
Speaking at the launch of this year’s NSSF expo at Makerere University Business School, Ayota attributed this achievement to the Fund’s youth empowerment programs, like the expo, that encourage long-term savings at a young age.
“Our initiative that was aimed at recruiting savers at a young age could not have turned out better, with over 44,700 members who were recruited as students through the NSSF career expo owning more than shs35 billion cumulatively in savings over 10 years. It shows that starting one’s long-term savings journey at a young age is no longer a myth but is possible,” Ayota said.
The annual NSSF Career Expo is a platform through which university students are equipped with skills and knowledge to increase their employment and entrepreneurship opportunities as well as financial management skills to improve their saving culture.
This year’s expo which kicked off today will run up to April, 26 in various universities across the country under the theme, “Discovering your Purpose”.
“With today’s uncertain job market, it is important for young people to align their acquired academic knowledge and skills with their post-university career choices. Together with our partners, we will equip university students, especially finalists, with knowledge and skills to thrive in the competitive post-university world,” he said.
Over 5,000 students from nine universities across the country are expected to participate in the expo.
Participating universities include; Makerere University Business School, Makerere University, Kyambogo University, Kampala International University, Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi, Uganda Christian University Mukono in the central region, Gulu University in the north, Islamic University of Uganda in Mbale and Bishop Stuart University in Mbarara, western Uganda.
Absa Bank, Managing Director, Mumba Kalifungwa announced a contribution of shs30 million to support the expo.
He also pledged that the bank would provide career guidance, skills-related short courses, and job search tools, via their online platform “ready to work” to the participating students.