Picture: The North West MEC for DEDECT, Bitsa lenkopane and the YAEI CEO, Mr Risuna Maluleke/Supplied

By STAFF REPORTER

17 April 2026 – The North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT) in partnership with the Young African Entrepreneurs Institute (YAEI), North West University (NWU) and Miss Naledi Pageant, hosted a certification and grant handover ceremony for 25 young participants, who successfully completed a practical innovation training programme conducted in a hackathon format in Vryburg.

This initiative forms part of DEDECT’s ongoing commitment to youth empowerment, as announced during the Miss Naledi 2025 pageant held in December 2025.

The North West MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane said the initiative was initially designed to assist participants in transforming their ideas into viable businesses, while promoting professionalisation and diversification within the pageant-linked value chain. Lenkopane said, however, the programme has since been translated into a practical intervention – North West Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Programme facilitated by DEDECT and YAEI.

“The programme has empowered 25 young people with entrepreneurship development skills and facilitated business registration through the companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). The 25 participants were grouped into seven companies, where each team identified a priority problem, validated market needs, developed innovative solutions, and produced investable business pitches for adjudication.

“The initiative contributes to the government’s broader efforts to combat youth unemployment and stimulate economic participation. Business opportunities linked to the pageant value chain, which these young people may explore, include events management, pageant coaching, photography and videography, makeup and hair styling, fashion design, as well as personal branding and influencer development,” she said.

Lenkopane further said some young people proposed diversifying into agro-processing and waste management to boost the local economy and create employment opportunities. She commended them for taking the initiative to improve their lives through entrepreneurship and innovation, and for committing themselves to skills development as a foundation for success.

“We encourage other youth to organise themselves and devise solutions to challenges faced by the government in developing the lives of the people of the North West. The handover of training certificates and grand support represents more than a ceremonial milestone, but a decisive investment in the capabilities of young people, particularly young women—to move from the margins of the economy into positions of ownership, innovation, and leadership.

“By integrating skills development with financial support and tools of trade, we are not only nurturing ideas but enabling sustainable enterprises that will contribute meaningfully to local economic growth,” added Lenkopane.

She said this initiative reflects a government that is intentional, responsive and committed to delivery. Lenkopane said it signals a shift from promises to practical empowerment, where partnerships targeted

interventions and accountability converge to create real opportunities.

“The success of these beneficiaries will stand as a testament to what is possible when the government acts with purpose to unlock the full potential of its people. We also acknowledge 33 additional informal traders from

the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, who received machinery and equipment from the department.

“This support forms part of the department’s Informal Traders Support

Programme, which provides resources to traders who responded to a formal call for assistance. The event marks a significant milestone in demonstrating the impact of government support in empowering entrepreneurs to participate meaningfully in the economy and drive the next wave of innovation and job creation,” she said.

Meanwhile, the YAEI CEO, Risuna Maluleke, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to advancing youth entrepreneurship, emphasising that young people are a vital source of innovation and

solutions to the country’s challenges. Maluleke said the skills you have acquired are a weapon for success, enabling them to turn entrepreneurial visions into reality and secure sustainable business growth.

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