Launch of “IMBEJU” programme

from Dar Life November 2022 Issue

by Dar Life Magazine

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CRDB Bank has been setting aside 5.0bn/- yearly through capital injection for youth and women entrepreneurs in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The lender is implementing the programme dubbed “IMBEJU” which was launched on 28th October 2022 at the sixth ICT workshop that brought together participants from in and outside the country.

CRDB is implementing the initiative in collaboration with ICT Commission and to start with, has given the Commission 50m/- to dish out for digital startups.

Minister of Information, Communication and ICT Nape Nnauye said, when launching the programme, that the initiative will assist in the creation of economic integration for both youth and women.

“The majority of people in the country are youth and women,” Mr Nnauye said. “Despite that, they are the most economically dependent group.

“The government has been making great efforts to empower this group. I salute CRDB for its support.”

Through the programme, young people will present their business plans, and innovative ideas to students, and then a group of experts will analyse and grant capital and training according to a list of laid down procedures.

CRDB Group CEO and Managing Director, Abdulmajid Nsekela, said that through ‘IMBEJU’, the bank will be providing enabling capital to young and entrepreneurial women with business and innovative ideas.

“Under IMBEJU we will also be providing training in business management, the use of IT systems, financial and marketing education, and assistance in improving products and innovative ideas,” Mr Nsekela said.

The bank will also establish a special training and business innovation centre at the former Headquarters of the CRDB on Azikiwe Street in Dar es Salaam.

The centre will be managed in collaboration with the IT Commission. The programme placed greater emphasis on startups in the IT sector, focusing more on stimulating the digital economy.

The ICT Commission Director General, Dr Nkundwe Mwasaga, said they envisage that the ‘IMBEJU’ programme will rapidly stimulate the growth of young businesses in the economy.

The IMBEJU goes in line with the slogan “Leave No One Behind” of the Sustainable Development Goals (SGD) 2030 which emphasises the empowerment of marginalised groups and tackling inequality in economic opportunities.