28/08/2026
PS Mang’eni Urges MMUST First-Year Students to Embrace Entrepreneurship and Financial Independence
The first-year student orientation programme at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) climaxed with a keynote address by the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Hon. Susan Auma Mang’eni, who challenged students to embrace entrepreneurship, innovation and financial independence.
Addressing the newly admitted students, PS Mang’eni highlighted various government initiatives aimed at empowering young people and creating opportunities for them to become economically independent.
She cited the NYOTA (National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement) Fund as one of the key government programmes designed to support young people to venture into entrepreneurship and grow their businesses. She encouraged the students to take advantage of such opportunities and develop sustainable sources of income.
> “Young people must position themselves to take advantage of the opportunities available to them and work towards achieving financial independence,” she emphasized.
The PS also encouraged the students to embrace the Hustler Fund, which she described as another important government initiative aimed at expanding access to affordable financial services and empowering young people economically.
PS Mang’eni assured the students of the Government’s continued support throughout their higher education journey, noting that investing in young people remains critical to the country’s social and economic development.
PS Mang’eni further expressed her support for a proposal by the University Management to introduce an introductory business course for all students at MMUST.
She said equipping university students with basic business and entrepreneurial skills would help prepare them for a changing employment landscape while enhancing their financial literacy.
The course, she noted, would provide students from different academic disciplines with foundational knowledge in entrepreneurship, business management and financial decision-making, thereby enabling them to explore opportunities beyond formal employment.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Solomon Shibairo, challenged the first-year students to shift their mindset from seeking employment to creating employment opportunities for themselves and others.
Prof. Shibairo emphasized the growing importance of the digital economy, noting that the expanded digital space has opened up numerous opportunities for innovative and technologically savvy young people.
He urged the students to acquire relevant skills, embrace technology and identify innovative solutions to challenges facing society.
“The digital space presents immense opportunities for young people. You should not only prepare yourselves to become job seekers but also position yourselves to become job creators,” the Vice Chancellor told the students.
Prof. Shibairo also expressed appreciation to the Government for its continued support towards the development of infrastructure and other projects at the University.
He specifically highlighted the ongoing construction of a modern hostel facility, which is expected to enhance accommodation capacity and improve the welfare of MMUST students.
The Vice Chancellor noted that such investments in infrastructure are essential in creating a conducive environment for teaching, learning, research and student development.
The orientation programme provided an opportunity for the University to welcome its new students, introduce them to the institution’s academic and administrative systems, and equip them with information necessary for a successful university experience.
The event underscored the shared commitment of the Government and MMUST to empowering young people with the knowledge, skills and opportunities required to contribute meaningfully to Kenya’s socio-economic transformation.
