The University of Nairobi Youth Entrepreneurship Incubation Programme celebrated the inaugural graduation of 40 trainees who successfully completed an intensive eight-day bootcamp on August 18, 2026, at the Main Campus. The programme was aimed at equipping them with practical entrepreneurship and enterprise development skills.

The graduation ceremony was graced by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Finance, Planning and Development, Prof. Josiah Aduda, who was representing the Vice-Chancellor, Eng. Prof Ayub Gitau, congratulated the graduates for their commitment and determination throughout the programme.

The programme, implemented in partnership with Equity Group, is designed to empower young people with the knowledge, skills and networks needed to transform innovative ideas into sustainable enterprises. It focuses on six key areas: entrepreneurship and business skills, product development and innovation, financial inclusion, mentorship and networks, market access and digital enterprise skills.

In his address, Prof. Aduda noted that the bootcamp provided participants with a comprehensive journey from idea development to enterprise creation. “The programme began with ‘My Venture in Ninety Seconds,’ which was a process of refining your ideas under the eyes of facilitators and investors,” he said.

He highlighted the practical and hands-on nature of the training, noting that participants were taken through design thinking, customer discovery and value proposition development. They also engaged with Equity Bank and other partners, including Kenya Industrial Estates, to gain insights into financing and enterprise support.

The graduates further interacted with the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), where they gained practical knowledge on registering and running compliant businesses. Prof. Aduda also highlighted the importance of the two-day practical field visits, which enabled participants to experience first-hand how production, processing and digital platforms can contribute to the growth and sustainability of an enterprise.

“Certainly, that is not a light week. That is a full course in what it takes to move from an idea to a fully-fledged enterprise,” Prof. Aduda said. The eight-day bootcamp therefore provided the graduates with more than theoretical knowledge. It exposed them to practical tools, industry experts, financial institutions and enterprise support organisations, preparing them to navigate the realities of starting and growing businesses.

The University of Nairobi Youth Entrepreneurship Incubation Programme continues to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem by creating opportunities for young people to develop viable enterprises, access markets and finance, embrace innovation and build networks that can support long-term business growth.

The graduation marks an important milestone for the 40 trainees, who are now better equipped to apply the knowledge and skills gained during the bootcamp and contribute to the development of a vibrant and sustainable youth enterprise ecosystem.