“Academic institutions can collaborate to guide and empower the youth toward entrepreneurship by establishing innovation hubs,” said CEO KNCCI, Ahmed Farah, HSC during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2024 at the University of Nairobi.

The goal of the GEW 2024 is to give very early stage startups a platform to gain actionable insights from seasoned industry experts, experienced entrepreneurs, and potential mentors.

In his keynote speech, Mr. Farah encouraged the students to aspire to become job creators, rather than merely job seekers.

KNCCI has developed comprehensive programs such as the Jiiinue Growth Program aimed at helping MSMEs transition from the 5 million informal sector into the formal business landscape. This transition will enable them to access trade finance, which remains limited for informal MSMEs, as informed by the KNCCI Business Barometer – a tool that provides insights on the business environment in Kenya.

Additionally, KNCCI is exploring a partnership with the University of Nairobi (UoN) to expand innovation hubs and foster startup growth among students, in line with our mission to enhance growth of businesses in Kenya.