Nairobi, January 20 – Inoorero University’s Regional Centre for Enterprise Development (RCED) will this Friday hold Orientation for the second cohort of its business mentorship programme.

The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Business Mentorship programme, which was launched in July 2011, has already seen 23 mentors graduate with post graduate certificates. “The role of the trained business mentors is to generate advice and provide technical support on growth opportunities and possibilities of financial and other support services on a regular basis to entrepreneurs, especially young ones,” said Mr Daniel Huba, the Co-ordinator of the Regional Centre for Enterprise Development.

The MSME Business Mentorship programme is supported by the Royal Danish Embassy in Nairobi, International Labour Organization- Youth Entrepreneurship Facility and other industry partners to train business mentors/advisers to provide support to formal and informal business and enhance development of more sustainable enterprises.

“The course is offered once per month, for four consecutive days, and takes five months to complete,” said Mr Huba. The courses are module-based and provide mentors with technical competencies on business and soft skills.

Expected guests at the Launch include George Waigi, National Coordinator International Labour Organization- Youth Entrepreneurship Facility (ILO-YEF); Moses Mwaura President ENABLIS AFRICA; Prof Henry Thairu, Vice chancellor Inoorero University among other distinguished guests and institutions involved in Small and Medium Size enterprises (SMEs) development.

Mr Huba said the 23 mentors Graduate mentors will also be moving on a 2 day planning retreat at BLP Ruiru to develop the strategic plan of the Professional Business Mentors (PBM)-Association which is set to be launched in February 2012. PBM Association will endeavour to mentor 115 entrepreneurs in the 12 months. “.

In total RCED expects to have trained 83 mentors by December 2012 that shall be providing mentorship to at least 415 entrepreneurs from the MSME sector.

The long-term goal of the mentorship is to contribute to the growth of sustainable Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Eastern Africa. Such growth will see the MSME contribute more to the countries’ economic development and provide jobs to a majority of the population.