Every year, thousands of young Kenyans graduate from universities across the country. Graduation ceremonies are marked with pomp and colour as family and friends celebrate one of their own who has just been given the power to read and do all that appertains their degree.
For an overwhelming majority, what follows are many dark days (read years) of seeking the ever-elusive employment opportunities. Joblessness takes over and with it comes frustrations and despair. This should not be the case.
Entrepreneurship is the best alternative to the few formal employment opportunities available. The good news is that many policy interventions are being put forward by government and non-government actors to promote the noble path of entrepreneurship.
The theme of the 56th Madaraka day celebrations held on December 12, 2022, was a testament to this. However, I will leave policy issues to those best suited to champion them and concentrate on where I have an edge, the root: academia.
One of the greatest weaknesses of our university system is that it, to a large extent, trains job seekers and not necessarily job creators.
Particularly for those pursuing non-commerce-related degrees, issues surrounding creativity, problem-solving, innovation, financing, scaling and commercialisation are introduced to them towards their final days on campus (mostly in the form of a single unit in their fourth year of study).
This approach is tragic. This group of students is the main source of new concepts, they are naturally the creators. They spend most of their time in science and computer labs discovering new knowledge. For the system to then fail to fully train them on how their newly acquired technical abilities can be successfully monetised is not only to fail them but also to fail our country.
More entrepreneurship and innovation course units that are in touch with the industry need to be offered to these students. The units should not be scheduled towards the tail end of the course but instead, be evenly spread across the academic years.
