Young Entrepreneurs in Makadara Get Practical Guidance Through NYOTA Program
PS Susan Mang’eni shares a meal with NYOTA Program beneficiaries undertaking Business Skills training in Makadara Constituency Nairobi County.
More than two hundred young people gathered for the ongoing NYOTA Project Business Training at Rabai Road Primary School in Makadara . The session drew participants from Hamza, Viwandani, Harambee, and Makongeni wards, entered its second day with a special visit from the Principal Secretary for MSMEs Development, Susan Mang’eni.
The PS joined the trainees during their lunch break, sharing a meal and taking time to listen to their business ideas and early experiences from the training. Many of the youth spoke about the challenges they face when trying to start or expand small ventures in their neighbourhoods. Others said the programme had given them the first real chance to understand how to turn ordinary skills into sustainable income.
Speaking to the group, PS Mang’eni said the government wants young people to feel supported as they take steps toward self-employment.
“I encourage you to make use of this chance that you’ve been given. The programme is built around simple, practical skills that can be applied immediately,” she explained.
The four-day classroom training is meant to help the young entrepreneurs identify opportunities around them and learn the basics of planning, record-keeping, customer care, and managing small profits. Trainers have also been guiding them through simple exercises aimed at helping them refine their ideas into workable plans.
Once the classroom sessions wrap up, participants will begin receiving the NYOTA start-up grant in phases. According to officials overseeing the programme, the funds will help them put their ideas into action and, for those already running small activities, improve what they have started.
After the disbursement period, the youth will move into a three-day practical programme that will expose them to local businesses within Makadara. They will visit workshops, traders, and small industries, learning directly from people who have built enterprises in the area. The goal is for the trainees to see how real business environments operate and to make useful connections.
For many of the beneficiaries, the visit was a boost of confidence and a clear signal that the programme is being closely followed. The training continues through the week, with participants expected to complete both the classroom and field sessions before fully embarking on their new ventures.
