Girls must be empowered to become future entrepreneurs and business leaders said the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Elizabeth Thabethe.

She was speaking at the workshop dubbed “techno-girl entrepreneurship”, at the Mitta Seperepere Convention Centre in Kimberley at the weekend.

Thabethe said the government was keen to promote women in science. The initiative saw 100 pupils from 10 high schools in the province take part in the workshop, where they presented business ideas to a panel of judges.

The workshop, a part of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Technology for Women in Business, is aimed at introducing girls to career opportunities in various sectors of the economy.

“We are investing in developing young girls in order to ensure they do not become a liability, and a burden to the state, but contribute meaningfully in the country. This they can do that by establishing their own businesses and creating employment. We want to create youngsters who will be creators of jobs and not seekers’ of jobs,” Thabethe said. She told the girls that they had to be innovative in order to become successful entrepreneurs.

“You can do this by coming up with workable business ideas that can be turned into successful businesses.

“We want to encourage young girls to become creative thinkers and inventors, and to consider science and technology in their studies and careers.

“The programme has been a success and we want to take it to the next level.” 

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