Africa-Press – Tanzania. GRADUATES have been urged to shift focus from relying solely on academic theory and instead adopt a practical mindset that embraces entrepreneurship and skills development.
This call was made by entrepreneur Mr Geshon Munyi, a beneficiary of the Skills Development Fund (SDF), during an interview with Daily News at the 49th ongoing Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF).
Mr Munyi , who is Chief Executive Officer of G- African Food Enterprise, a spice processing company, said many graduates fail to secure employment because they cling too tightly to classroom knowledge without adapting to market realities.
“When I completed university, I set aside my academic qualifications and joined an entrepreneurship training programme. I knew I had to do more to earn a living just having a degree was not enough,” he said.
The SDF programme, implemented by the Tanzania Education Authority (TEA), is designed to economically empower underserved groups, particularly rural women and youth from low-income backgrounds, through vocational and entrepreneurship training.
Mr Munyi credited the programme for giving him the skills and confidence to start his business, which now produces seven varieties of spices: cinnamon powder, ginger powder, herbal tea, cardamom, tea masala, pilau masala, and black pepper.
“I started this business three years after the training where I managed to establish my own processing company.
“My products are sold locally, with growing demand in Zanzibar and South Africa,” he said.
Mr Munyi has so far created six permanent jobs and engages part-time workers depending on demand.
In addition, he offers training opportunities to young people interested in the spice business.
Despite his success, Mr Munyi expressed concern over the low uptake of entrepreneurship among youth.
“Entrepreneurship requires passion. If someone lacks passion, even with training, they won’t sustain a business.
It is not just about knowledge it is about mindset,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Mr Munyi urged fellow graduates to take advantage of opportunities such as social media to grow their businesses, market their products, and connect with customers.
He also called on the government to continue investing in practical training programmes that equip youth with the skills needed to create jobs and reduce unemployment.
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