Three Keetmanshoop entrepreneurs were awarded N.dollars 85 000 as part of the Old Mutual Sustainable, Economic and Empowerment Drive (OM SEED) initiative.
Berta Boois of Caring Hearts Brick Making Project took third place and received N.dollars 10 000, while Jonathan Freyer of Porklands Keetmanshoop won second place and received N.dollars 25 000.
Unomasa Kavita of Kavita Sports Performance won the first prize of N.dollars 50 000.
The second edition of the OM SEED initiative was completed on 11 August 2022 by Old Mutual Namibia, Launch Namibia, the Financial Literacy Initiative (FLI), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Accelerator Lab.
In a media release issued on Monday, Mufaro Nesongano, Manager for Communications and Old Mutual Foundation, stated that the team visited various communities in Windhoek, Keetmanshoop and Oshakati to educate them about OM SEED.
According to him, this resulted in over 800 applications from the three towns.
“After completing the Windhoek edition of OM SEED, we travelled to Keetmanshoop where we had the opportunity to engage with 60 excited and determined entrepreneurs, each fighting for their opportunity to grow their business,” Nesongano said.
He said the various ideas pitched by the entrepreneurs made the team realise the need for more initiatives aimed at Namibia’s grassroots businesses.
During the Keetmanshoop edition, entrepreneurs received business, financial, entrepreneurship and leadership training to help scale their businesses.
“Not only will the Keetmanshoop winners be given the opportunity to grow their businesses, but they will also be incubated for three months to help them use their training and capital in the most effective way to better position their businesses in the market,” Nesongano explained.
Winner Kavita was quoted as saying: “I saw a gap in the market in the south, where our athletes have no facility or coach to help them elevate their performance. Kavita Sports Performance provides a conducive and safe environment for athletes to train. We also assist in the development of our athletes from a young age so that they can one day represent Namibia internationally. This money will have a huge impact on our company.”
Shortlisted candidates for Oshakati will receive training on 17 and 18 August 2022.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
