Partnering to Scale Entrepreneurial Education in Africa
Did you know that we engage 5,000 youth in entrepreneurship education across Africa? Partnerships allow us to scale. Partners are establishing their own locally-led chapters of our programming to reach thousands more youth per year. Read on to learn about our current partners.
Strathmore University: Nairobi, Kenya
As of this April 2024, the DDQIC launched its Strathmore chapter program, in partnership with iBizAfrica. The goal of the program is to demonstrate how universities and industries can work hand in hand to foster entrepreneurship. The launch featured notable speakers, revealed the top 20 startups chosen to join the program, and offered valuable insights from past program participants. Key takeaways included the urgency of empowering African youth and the role of innovation in sustainable growth and development.
鈥淓mpowering the next generation of African youth is not just a necessity but a responsibility. With only 3 million formal job positions available for 10-12 million entrants annually, fostering university-industry partnerships becomes imperative." -Dr. Joseph Sevella: Director, iLab Africa
Strathmore fellow testimonial:
鈥淢y time in DDQIC has not only grown my startup but also grown me as an individual. When applying for the fellowship, my startup was but an idea that had only been illustrated using slides. Now, I have been able to conduct necessary research, meet relevant industry and business experts and even begin prototyping.鈥 -Victoria Muwara, Strathmore fellow, 2024
Botho University: Gaborone, Botswana
The DDQIC has partnered with Botho University to create a spin-off program for the residents of their innovation centre in Gaborone. After assessing the pilot results, we plan to launch programs at their international campuses in Lesotho, Eswatini, and Namibia. This partnership was facilitated through a partnership with the Government of the Republic of Botswana, where their Ministry of Entrepreneurship is helping us connect with aspiring entrepreneurs across the country.
University of Kigali: Kigali, Rwanda
Our latest collaboration with the University of Kigali involves sharing best practices as we support their Enterprise Business Centre team in establishing an innovation centre using DDQIC training and playbooks. They launched with 60 students in the first year this May!
Future Perspectives: Lagos, Nigeria
We have engaged 50 EdTech entrepreneurs in Nigeria through a pilot program with the Innovation to Transform Education Training (ITET) initiative. Since the pilot ended, we have been collaborating to expand the cohort and introduce a STEM-focused program tailored for entrepreneurs in Lagos.
Quest Fellowship: Kampala, Uganda
Our QUEST fellowship is led by Abraham Kyeyune, a 2021 Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation program alumnus, and is now entering its second year, with students in the explore phase of starting their ventures.
The Dunin-Deshpande Queen's Innovation Centre (DDQIC) is dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among students and the wider community. Through various programs and initiatives, DDQIC supports the development of entrepreneurial skills and provides resources for aspiring entrepreneurs to succeed.
For more information, visit the DDQIC Website.