By Emmanuel Okiria
LuAteker Concepts is set to host the second edition of the Ateker Young Entrepreneurs Symposium at Soroti Secondary School on January 25, 2025, under the theme “Young Entrepreneurs Shaping Tomorrow’s World.”
The event, which is free of charge, aims to bring together over 2,000 delegates, including aspiring and existing entrepreneurs from all Teso districts.
The symposium serves as a platform to exchange ideas, share knowledge, and provide opportunities to empower young Ateker people economically.
The initiative is expected to instill lasting entrepreneurial skills and experiences, promoting sustainable development within the Ateker community.
The first LuAteker symposium, held last year, attracted over 700 participants.
This year’s event aims to double the attendance, building on its success as a transformative platform for the youth.
Speaking at a press conference, George William Okoit, the team leader of LuAteker Concepts and CEO of Teso Textiles, reflected on the socioeconomic struggles of the Ateker community.
“Historically, the Ateker society was one of the richest cultures in Uganda. However, today we are the second poorest community in the country. It is heartbreaking,” he said.
Okoit highlighted the resilience and industrious nature of the Ateker youth but noted that their talents and abilities remain under utilized due to limited opportunities.
“Entrepreneurship is the open door we need to absorb our youth into the job market. We must embrace it just as we value our traditional norms of cattle keeping, diversifying our economy as other regions like Buganda have done,” he added.
Okoit urged the Ateker community to embrace entrepreneurship by starting family businesses, creating jobs within their households, and reducing reliance on external employment opportunities.
He emphasized the need to address poverty intentionally, saying, “We must move beyond prayers and combine faith with work. I am a living testimony, having arrived in Soroti in 2006 with nothing. Today, I employ over 20 people.”
The symposium, set to run for the next five years, aims to create a minimum of 20,000 enterprises by 2030, with a goal of significantly reducing poverty in the region.
Okoit called on banking institutions, leaders, and partners to support the initiative by providing resources such as water, stationery, and financial assistance to attendees.
Okoit expressed gratitude to Equity Bank for its financial support, as well as other partners, including the Bank of Uganda, Sparo Hotels, Fahaab Energy, and Makerere Innovation Incubation Centre.
He also acknowledged the support of HRH Papa Emorimor Paul Sande Emolot Etomeileng and other dignitaries, including keynote speaker Charles Ocici and business leaders like Paul Angeret of Arch Architect.
Isaac Esaru, Programs Coordinator at LuAteker Concepts, cited a 2022 UBOS report that revealed 55.6% of the population in the region survives on rain-fed subsistence agriculture.
This statistic underscores the importance of initiatives like the symposium in teaching sustainable business practices and enhancing economic resilience.
Esaru announced plans to establish a business incubation hub in the Teso sub-region, with infrastructural development set to begin this year.
“We aim to build an economy capable of adding value to our products to compete globally,” he said.
The LuAteker team called upon the public and partners to join hands in transforming the business dynamics in Teso, fostering a new wave of entrepreneurial growth to combat poverty and unemployment.
This year’s symposium promises to be a groundbreaking event, shaping the future of the Ateker community and empowering young entrepreneurs to lead the way in economic transformation.
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Well-done Mr. Okoit and Team.
First symposium changed my life the second one found me out for some training please may the revolution go on brother okiot your personal number