The College of Business Education (CBE) has announced that its incubation program, launched last year, has already empowered over 450 students to establish and manage their own businesses.

This impressive milestone was shared yesterday by Prof. Edda Lwoga, Rector of CBE, during a press briefing ahead of a special conference focused on enhancing employment opportunities and sustainable development.

The conference, scheduled to take place today, Thursday, June 19, 2025, at the college premises, aims to equip young people with the skills and mindset to become self-employed entrepreneurs upon graduation. 

Prof. Lwoga explained that the incubation program provides a platform for students to present their business ideas, receive professional training, and benefit from the supervision of lecturers, ultimately enabling them to launch and run their ventures after completing their studies.

"The intention is to enable graduates of the college to have something to do when they graduate instead of struggling to find jobs in various companies," Prof. Lwoga stated, highlighting CBE's commitment to addressing the challenge of unemployment in the country.

The conference is expected to be graced by the Minister of Industry and Trade, Dr. Selemani Jafo, alongside various national leaders from both government and the private sector. Prof. Lwoga emphasized that the event will serve as a crucial platform for students to practically demonstrate their learned skills and to gain direct insights from potential employers and development stakeholders.

Over 30 companies and institutions from diverse sectors are anticipated to participate in the conference. Notable attendees will include the Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO), Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), Prime Minister's Office (Youth, Employment and Persons with Disabilities), UTT AMIS, Tanzania Youth Coalition, Tanzania Women Chamber of Commerce (TWCC), and Muhimbili University of Medicine and Allied Sciences (MUHAS).

These participating organizations will engage through open exhibitions, offer advice, listen to student pitches, and provide firsthand experience about the real work environment. Prof. Lwoga expressed CBE's ambition to transform this conference into a national platform, fostering collaboration among graduates, employers, government institutions, the private sector, and policymakers to build a stronger future for employment and development in Tanzania.

 In addition to the incubation program, Prof. Lwoga highlighted the significant benefits of CBE's apprenticeship program. Through this initiative, students spend half of their study time in the classroom and the other half with various employers for practical, on-the-job learning. CBE has forged agreements with numerous institutions and companies to facilitate these apprenticeships, ensuring that graduates possess the practical skills and competencies highly sought after by employers.

"This helps the student to be employed as soon as he completes his studies because he has the right skills and competence needed by various employers," Prof. Lwoga concluded, reiterating CBE's dedication to producing skilled, creative, and independent professionals for the sustainable development of the nation.