R20 000 entrepreneurship

Garden Route Innovation and Technology Hub (GRIT Hub), a registered non-profit organisation in George, is launching the 'Innovative Ideas' programme for students of the Nelson Mandela University George Campus in which a cash prize of R20 000 is up for grabs. The programme is aimed at nurturing innovative thinking and includes a competition, event series and a certified entrepreneurship programme.

Students from this campus will have the chance to participate in the competition over the next seven months, with applications opening from 1 May to 1 June.

There will be two winners who will each receive a R10 000 cash prize. A select group of individuals will also be shortlisted to undergo a free and certified 12-week entrepreneurship course.

As a proud alumnus of the university, Udy Obi, project leader and GRIT Hub associate, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, emphasising the importance of creating opportunities, particularly for the youth.

"The youth are truly the custodians of the future and business is the key to creating jobs and expanding local economic activity," says Obi.

The 'Innovative Ideas' programme also provides a platform for entrepreneurs from the surrounding community to engage and connect with students, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. GRIT Hub has teamed up with a number of local organisations within the university to ensure that they reach as many students as possible and maximise the initiative’s potential.

Applications for the competition will open in May, with the inaugural event scheduled to take place in the same month on the campus grounds. For more information, visit www.grithub. org.za or contact Udy Obi at udy@grithub.org.za.