The government yesterday officially launched the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) program at Machakos University.
The youth empowerment program aims to tackle unemployment while targeting the vulnerable and disadvantaged youths between the age of 18-29 as well as People with disability of up to 35 years’ country wide.
The nationwide transformative project targets 820,000 youths in the country costing about Sh5 billion and is funded by World Bank in which young people with business ideas or existing projects will receive grants of Sh50,000, mentorship, and training to help them build viable enterprises and sustain themselves and their families too.
Speaking to the media at Machakos University Principal Secretary in State Department for Wildlife, Sylvia Museiya, where she officially launched the NYOTA program, she underscored that the government is concerned with youth unemployment and has instituted urgent intervention measures including the NYOTA program in order to address unemployment through three pillars of entrepreneurship, skills development and savings.
“This is not just another fund, it is a complete ecosystem designed to equip our youth with skills, discipline, mentorship, and opportunities to thrive. By empowering young people today, we secure Kenya’s economic future,” said Museiya.
Museiya disclosed that after applying for the grant, assessments will be done through interviews to identify those who are ready for businesses or have a business idea and are ready to nurture them, equip them with skills and mentorship and after receiving the grants, they will be encouraged to save with the NSSF where the system will be upgraded to support this initiative thus creating a savings culture for the next generation.
She added that beyond grants, Nyota Program encourages individual responsibility while promoting digital integration for 600,000 youths since they will be trained to access government tenders and also create a Kenyan version of Amazon a digital marketplace that will connect young entrepreneurs to global markets
“This project allows you to grow on your own but have a mentor to support you through the process by promoting individual responsibility as opposed to group funds or group work,” said the PS.
Museiya, however, noted that there are challenges of incomplete Nyota applications where youths just fill the first part of the document and ignore the rest.
With case of the People living with disabilities they fail to attach their Pwd’s certificate, while other applicants fail to attend the aptitude test.
Machakos County Commissioner Josephine Ouko exuded confidence in her NGAO team and added that they are ready to follow up and engage the youths on the Nyota application to ensure 100% successful rate.
“We are focused and organized and ready to engage with the youths and team leaders because nothing is impossible when we give our all,” said Ms Ouko.
The event hosted MSME officers and officials, Machakos Youth officials, NSSF officers, Machakos CECM for Youth, Sports, Gender and Social welfare Sharon Mutua, NGAO team among other national government officers.
By Ann Wangui and Ann Kangero
