Speakers at the opening of the Okakarara Vocational Training Centre's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Week called on the trainees not to become job seekers but rather use their skills to start their own businesses.
The first of its kind, Okakarara Innovation and Entrepreneurship Week, exhibits the vocational training centre's products.
Speaking at the occasion, Okakarara Constituency Councillor Ramana Mutjavikua says he would not like to see trainees sitting at home after graduation.
"What OVTC stands for is to not create job seekers but job creators, and I want you to meet me one day before my retirement as bosses and job creators. I don't want to meet any of you on the streets looking for jobs after qualifying as job creators."
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development, Innovation, and Acceleration Executive Director Dino Ballotti is optimistic that products made at Okakarara VTC can compete in the international market.
"At next year's Entrepreneurship Week, which will be bigger and better, we will showcase 10 import substitutions locally manufactured or produced by OVTC. At the OVTC Institute, we understand the importance of fostering a culture of innovation and empowering aspiring entrepreneurs to chart their own paths. The goal is not to merely teach skills but to ignite a spark within each student, encouraging you to become catalysts of change in your own chosen fields."
Okakarara Town Council guaranteed the trainees from Okakarara Vocational Centre an internship opportunity.
"We will give an opportunity to at least three students in a year from OVTC and NAMVOC so that they will be given an opportunity to do their job attachment at OTC. We are doing this to live up to our mandate of giving opportunities to our people graduating from Okakarara", said Okakarara Town Council CEO Ehrnst Katiku.
The trainees are ready to kick-start their own businesses once they graduate in their respective fields.
Okakarara Vocational Training Centre's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Week was hosted under the theme 'Innovation and Entrepreneurship.