August 12th is globally marked as International Youths Day and this year’s commemoration was unique as the President, All Africa Association for Small and Medium Enterprises (AAASME), Dr. Ebiekure Jasper Eradiri showered encomiums on Africa’s Youths.
In a Press release monitored from Gaborone, Botswana, Dr. Eradiri lauded the spirit of the youths and their roles in Integration as well as trade in the Continent. It is on record that Africa has a huge youth demographic which is an asset to be leveraged upon, furthermore the exploits by youths in FinTech amongst other tech developments is commendable.
The AU framework for Start-Ups, SMEs are enablers with the Youths as critical drivers for Agenda 2063 – the Africa we want. The highlight of commemoration is the inking between Dichaba Consumer Electronics (DICE) Botswana, AAASME and SureAid over deploying Made-In-Africa DiTec phones in enhancing Continental tech capabilities to boost intra Africa trade.
Emphasizing that the relevance of Technology in all facets of today’s world cannot be overemphasized, Dr. Eradiri stated that it has become imperative for the SME Ecosystem to leverage on technology to enable the accelerated economic growth and prosperity that Africa seeks. The Continent’s 100 million SMEs are the main focus in the Non Disclosure, Non circumvention document inked over Africa’s mobile phone/Tech capabilities by indigenous companies led by CEO of Dichaba Consumer Electronics(DICE), manufacturers of DiTec mobile phone, Mr.Dichaba Thatayaone.
The brief ceremony which held at the Botswana Innovation, Science and technology hub headquarters of Dichaba Consumer Electronics (DICE) on Monday Aug.12,2024 was witnessed by high ranking officers of DICE and applauded by Botswana Youths and SME stakeholders at the venue of Botswana Innovation, Science and Technology Park at Gaborone.
DICE sales & marketing manager Valentine Phelefu in her comments expressed excitement about the limitless possibilities with the potential of catapulting the dreams of the founding fathers of the African Union in boosting Intra African trade, AFCTA, AU Agenda 2063 – the Africa we want. She further envisage the launch of a special project arising from this in few months.
The CEO of DiTec, Mr. Dichaba in his statement after signing the document expressed very high optimism on the outcome of the deployment of his Tech enabled devices. He says Tech is Youth and Youth is Tech, they are like siamese twins and painted a beautiful picture of a glorious, prosperous future for the Youths who would become the leaders of tomorrow. We must remain Pan African in our communication and focus as solution providers with mandate that aligns with the AU vision for Africa’s business Ecosystem to thrive, he retorted.
Speaking further the President AAASME Dr. Ebiekure Jasper Eradiri communicated the inclined position of relocating the Headquarters of All Africa Association for Small and Medium Enterprises as constitutionally provided for from Mauritius to Nigeria but maintained that sub regional offices shall be opened across the Regions of Africa with Botswana being a host of one of such sub regional offices.
