The North-West University's (NWU) Business School recently played a pivotal role in supporting young entrepreneurs by hosting an SME Business Finance Clinic. More than 70 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were beneficiaries of this initiative, which aimed to empower and provide essential insights into SME financing and development support.
The event, organised by the Small Business Advisory Bureau (SBAB) of NWU's Business School in collaboration with the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), brought together various stakeholders to share valuable information about funding opportunities. Among the organisations contributing insights were SEDA, the Small Enterprise Finance Agency, Old Mutual Masisizane Fund, Investment Business Partners, and the National Empowerment Fund.
Oarabile Manyaapelo, the Manager of SBAB and a senior lecturer at the NWU Business School, expressed gratitude for the collaborative effort and support from these agencies. He likened the collaborative spirit to the proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child," emphasizing the collective commitment to nurturing the growth and development of young entrepreneurs.
"This sentiment captures the essence of the collaborative effort to foster the growth and development of young entrepreneurs. Just as a village shares its knowledge, skills, and care to raise a child with the utmost commitment, these agencies combine their strengths to foster the entrepreneurial spirit within the emerging innovators," Manyaapelo remarked.
The SME Business Finance Clinic went beyond financial insights, featuring messages of support from various role players. Andre Coertzen from the North West Chamber of Commerce and Kgosi Moshe Mabe, Chairperson of the North West House of Traditional Leaders and an advisory board member of the NWU Business School, shared their encouragement.
Dr. Joseph Sekhampu, Chief Director of the Business School, underscored the importance of partnerships between the university and public and private sector stakeholders. He emphasized the significance of such collaborative initiatives, highlighting the positive impact they can have on fostering entrepreneurship and supporting the next generation of business leaders.
The event served as a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and empowerment, reflecting NWU Business School's commitment to nurturing a culture of entrepreneurship among young innovators.
