Only 111 have applied for youth empowerment- Nkandu

Minister of youth, sport and arts, Elvis Nkandu has charged that the expiration of the 2015 to 2021 youth empowerment strategy should not be a deterrent to youths from accessing the nine youth empowerment programs the ministry has rolled out.

Mr. Nkandu has since challenged youths not to use the expiry of the youth empowerment strategy as a reason why they are not accessing the empowerment funds when they are not responding to the call by the ministry for applications.

He says the ministry has only received 111 company profiles applying for empowerment.

Mr Nkandu states that contrary to assertions by some youth organizations, the 2015 to 2021 youth empowerment strategy in itself is not a hindrance to youths accessing the empowerment, but the guidelines which he says where prohibitive to accessing these empowerment funds, which the ministry has since reversed.

Mr. Nkandu tells Q-News that the revision of the youth empowerment guidelines has simplified the process of accessing the funds even when the ministry is using the 2015 to 2021 youth empowerment strategy.

He has however noted the need for the ministry to develop the 2022 to 2026 youth empowerment policy.