Hundreds of young people attended a Youth Tech Expo hosted by the Gauteng Department of e-Government on Wednesday, 15 February 2023.
The Tech Expo, held at Brixton Multipurpose Centre in Johannesburg, was organized to contribute towards youth employment and youth entrepreneurship for the youth in Johannesburg.
Various companies in the business sector, partnered with the department in order to enable training and funding opportunities for the youth.
MEC for the Gauteng Department of e-Government, Research and Development and Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Mzi Khumalo, indicated that the expo was organized to empower the youth of Ekurhuleni with career opportunities in the ICT sector, as well as to render assistance to SMME owners with funding opportunities.
“We are here to work with you as the youth and assist you in developing your careers through opening up opportunities essential for your growth, whether in employment or entrepreneurship”, said MEC Mzi Khumalo.
The MEC also added that the Youth Tech Expo was hosted in order to educate the youth with key issues regarding the ICT sector and how they can go about starting their own businesses, alluding that knowledge plays a significant role in developing people.
“We are here to empower you with knowledge so that you can be educated and be aware of the various opportunities available for you out there. Knowledge plays a significant role in one’s development. You will be shocked that a number of people missed great opportunities in life because of lack of knowledge. Therefore, when your mind is empowered with the right knowledge, you will be able to make proper and informed decisions about your life”, said MEC Mzi Khumalo.
The youth got advice on how to set up their companies to be eligible to do business with government. They were also taught essential issues, such as financial wellness, management, careers in ICT and ICT training opportunities.
The various companies that graced the event and joined hands in empowering the youth were: Enterprise Outsourcing Holdings (EOH), First National Bank (FNB), Assupol, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Tshepo 1 million, Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&R SETA), Vaal Tech, Gauteng E-Waste, City of Johannesburg and The Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP).
Tom Mkhwanazi, a representative of W&R SETA, stated that his organization has been established to provide career guidance and career opportunities available within their sector.
“I would like to inform you all that our organization is packed with information about empowerment opportunities. This includes activities such as career advice, job search, training and self-employment”, said Mr Mkhwanzi.
Stanley Rabasotho from EOH said that their organization will be selecting 5 young people to join them and be trained on their ICT teaching programme.
“Today we will select 5 young people and train them in our ICT teaching programme. After completing their training, they will be placed in our ICT skills development programme.
Noluthando Miya, a laptop winner sponsored by EOH expressed her excitement about the expo.
“I am very happy to be here, and I would like to thank the Gauteng Department of e-Government for hosting such a useful event. I have learnt a lot about opportunities that are available out there in the ICT industry. Career and entrepreneur opportunities. I am going to make all the information that I have gathered to be very useful in building my career” said Noluthando Miya.
