By Christer Kalukusha

Lilongwe, February 23, Mana: In a bid of to connect youths in Malawi to different opportunities, mHub conducted a job and opportunity fair in Lilongwe which seeks to capacitate youths with different skills in entrepreneurship as well as job seeking.

Speaking at mHub offices in Area 15 in Lilongwe, mHub Communications Officer, Peter Chiwaula, said due to high unemployment rate among youths in the country, many are venturing into business hence the training to equip youths with skills for them succeed on the market.

"We are here to add value to what youths in the country are already doing; helping them in marketing skills, writing winning proposals and business plans, elevator pitching and accessing grants. So, we come in as a link to connect them to different stakeholders through these trainings," said Chiwaula.

Harvey Mmangisa, a participant who runs an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) business, Octet Systems, described the training as important saying it is a platform to meet potential clients.

He finds such conferences helpful as he has been equipped with skills that will scale up his business.

Managing Director for Thathwe Farms, Ngaaghila Chatata, who was one of the guest speakers, encouraged the youths to pursue their dreams and take such trainings seriously.

"There are opportunities out there but how you present them matters. As such, you need to be a self-starter and improve your curriculum vitae (CV) writing, proposals, pitching skills and, of course, continue to seek mentorship so that you stand out in the competition out there," she said.

The job and opportunity fair was organised by mHub in collaboration with GIZ through its Empowering Youth on Agribusiness (EYA) project which seeks to create jobs and improve skills for rural youth and women in Malawi.

The two-day training is also being held in Nsundwe, Traditional Authority Chimutu, Nkhoma nd Mitundu areas in Lilongwe district.