Thoboloko Ntšonyane
MASERU – Twenty young Basotho innovators and entrepreneurs are set to participate in the prestigious YouthConnekt Africa Summit, scheduled to take place in Kigali, Rwanda this week in an all-expenses-paid trip funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
This is according to the statement issued by the UNDP earlier this week.
“In a significant development, the UNDP has pledged to sponsor the delegation of 20 youth which is almost double those sponsored in 2023 which was 12 youth, underscoring its commitment to empowering Lesotho’s young leaders,” reads the UNDP’s statement.
Speaking at the SEBABATSO Youth Empowerment Initiative (YEI) Conference and the launch of the YouthConnekt Lesotho Chapter last month in Maseru, the UNDP’s Resident Representative Dr Jacqueline Olweya said they have decided to sponsor 20 Basotho youth in commemoration of the 200 years celebrations. This year’s Summit marks the consecutive occasions in which Basotho youth have been supported by UNDP to attend YouthConnekt, with last year’s event taking place in Nairobi, Kenya saw 12 participants from Lesotho.
Scheduled to take place from November 8th to 10th, the YouthConnekt Summit convenes youth from over 30 countries across the continent. This network focuses on empowering youth through skills development, and mentorship and funding opportunities amongst others.
The 20 delegates include 10 young innovators from the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) initiative, which promotes youth engagement in scientific and technical fields, and 10 promising entrepreneurs who distinguished themselves at the SEBABATSO Conference held last month.
Both groups demonstrated exceptional creativity and potential following training and pitching which was done before the panel of judges.
Among the 20 selected participants are: Mojalefa Mokotso, Thulo Mokhathali, Leloko Mothebe, Teboho Mosala, Bokang Putsoa, Puseletso Phatoane, ‘Maliepollo Motebang, ‘Makutloano Majoro, Gboko Tabani, Puseletso Sekese, Morongo Falatsi, Thakane Mahase, ‘Mablessing Chabana, Tlosi Ramaleka, Khaola Ramarumo, Molise Mahasele, Katleho Makunya, Noabulele Tjoete, Letšekha Ntlale and Tumo Tohlang.
YouthConnekt is aimed at empowering African youth by enhancing their skills, fostering entrepreneurship, and building partnerships that prioritize youth resilience.
The event is expected to feature dynamic sessions like youth-led plenaries, networking cafes, and immersive experiences around Kigali. This summit has become one of Africa’s largest platforms for youth policy and entrepreneurship, bringing together thousands attendees, including policymakers, business leaders, and development experts, alongside high-level guests such as Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame.
The YouthConnekt Africa also aims to create 10 million job opportunities, empower 25 million young people with essential skills, connect 100 million young Africans, nurture 1 million future leaders, and bridge the gender gap to promote equality.
This vibrant gathering is expected to produce fresh ideas and collaborative projects, furthering Africa’s development agenda by spotlighting youth-led solutions across fields like technology and social innovation.
Basotho representatives are poised to make significant contributions to discussions and initiatives shaping Africa’s future. At YouthConnekt, the Basotho youth will engage in workshops, discussions, and exhibitions aimed at addressing Africa’s challenges through innovation and entrepreneurship.
The event is expected to draw young leaders, experts, and mentors from across the continent, providing a platform for collaborative solutions to key issues such as economic empowerment, social development, and digital innovation.
The winners who participated in the YouthConnekt Summit in Nairobi, Kenya last year have reportedly seen remarkable growth and success in their ventures. Many of these participants have expanded their businesses, built larger teams, and entered new markets across Africa. One of them, Lebohang Molale of Molale Property Group, grew his business from three to twelve employees and acquired a business vehicle.
Similarly, Nthomeng Leuta, after representing Lesotho at the BRICS+ Youth Innovation Summit, now leads a project to produce accessible electricity and water treatment for rural areas.
Also, Lerato Masupha in the fintech sector increased his turnover from M800, 000 to M2.5 million, growing his transactional value considerably, while Khaolo Ramarou, a fish farmer, has reached substantial profits and gained invaluable insights from international training. These accomplishments highlight the impact of the YouthConnekt programme, driving both business growth and personal development for Lesotho’s young entrepreneurs.
The Lesotho delegation to the 2024 YouthConnekt Africa Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, will be led by Prime Minister Rt Hon Sam Matekane, joined by the Ministers of Youth, Communications, and Technology, amongst others as well as representatives from the UNDP.
They will support a group of innovators and entrepreneurs at the summit.