The Zambezi Vocational Training Centre held an innovation and entrepreneurship day to give trainees an opportunity to showcase skills in their respective trades.

The event, which was held at the Katima Mulilo open market, showcased various items made by students from all fields of studies.

Speaking at the open day, the Zambezi Governor, Alufea Sampofu, encouraged tertiary applicants to consider vocational training as an important step towards self-employment and national development.

Sampofu applauded the innovations presented by the students, and also encouraged the Zambezi VTC staff to host more showcases in the future.

"To our trainees who are participating in this event, you need courage to face the challenges of vocational training. You need to develop certain qualities of character and mind to gain knowledge. With this knowledge, you are empowered to come up with new knowledge that plays a role in making the country more advanced and powerful."

The centre held its fifth graduation ceremony earlier this month with over 300 students.

One of the challenges the centre is facing is the unemployment of artisan graduates, which prompted research determining a lack of entrepreneurship skills as the problem affecting the graduates.

This, however, has been addressed through incorporating innovation and entrepreneurship modules at all levels to prepare students and future graduates for the working world.