JKUAT accelerates growth driven entrepreneurs through partnership

A new partnership between JKUAT, World Best Friend and EMCAST (both of South Korea) has been formed in a bid to create sustainable startups in IT that create value and wealth for the youth of Kenya under a tripartite agreement.
The three parties will through education, mentorship and financing establish an incubation center aimed at nurturing IT experts with practical knowledge said the agreement signed, September, 6, 2016.
Commending the partnership, Vice chancellor, Prof. Mabel Imbuga, said that this is a significant milestone towards solving the unemployment challenge among the youth and women of this country.
“I am confident that the projects and startups incubated in the center will lead to viable ventures thus leading to employment of our youth and women,” said Prof Imbuga.
This goes to show the strength of the University especially in IT and the collaboration will go a long way in leveraging creativity among students in coming up with practical solutions in the country today.
World Best Friend CEO, Park Young Hak, said the partnership will cultivate startups and IT practitioners through ‘learning by doing’ so that they can be equipped with the skills that can meet the market needs and investors demands.
“It is my hope that the startups incubated in the center will be innovative and sustainable hence enhancing the wellbeing of the youth in Kenya,” said Mr. Young.
Ms. NeenaGichaara of EMCAST, said her company will provide networking opportunities for the youth involved in the center with peers, mentors and investors and hoped that it will lead to the commercialisation of the incubated projects.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Production and Extension) Prof. Mary Abukutsa, said JKUAT values collaborations that bear fruit and was confident that the collaboration will yield tangible results.
The function was also addressed by World Best Friend Chairman, Mr. LucahRotich,  Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Prof. RomanusOdhiambo and Director Linkages, Dr. KaibuiMwikamba. The MoU will remain in force for three years at the end of which all parties will review the collaboration.