TIC Launches Investment Program to Empower Graduates

TIC Launches Initiative to Address Graduate Unemployment through Investment Culture
Dodoma, February 28, 2025

In a bid to combat the growing challenge of youth unemployment, the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) has launched a new initiative aimed at cultivating a culture of investment among university students. The goal is to boost the number of Tanzanian investors and empower the youth to create their own job opportunities through investment.

The initiative comes at a time when many graduates, including teachers, are voicing their concerns about the lack of employment opportunities and are seeking government jobs.

According to a statement from TIC, between January 2021 and now, they have registered a total of 2,020 projects. Of these, 35% are owned by Tanzanians, 42.6% by foreign investors, and 23.1% are joint ventures between Tanzanians and foreign investors.

During a training session on Financial Literacy and Investment at the University of Dodoma (UDOM) on Friday, TIC’s Executive Director, Gilead Teri, shared insights about the program. He explained that the initiative is designed to build a generation of students who are well-versed in investment practices. By starting early, they will be better positioned to engage in investment opportunities as soon as they graduate.

Teri emphasized that Tanzanian investors are still relatively few, leaving room for foreign investors to dominate opportunities that could have been seized by local entrepreneurs. He urged students to begin growing their capital early, ensuring they can make significant investments as they progress in their careers, which will ultimately help Tanzanians take ownership of their economy.

The TIC aims to reach 10,000 students by the end of 2025 through this initiative, with a long-term goal of reaching one million students by 2030. Teri further added that students will receive training five to six times per semester to equip them with the knowledge and skills to succeed in the investment world.

Additionally, TIC plans to extend the program to younger audiences, including a new initiative in collaboration with stock market companies targeting youth aged 14 to 26 to start investing.

Professor Lughano Kusiluka, who opened the training, noted that while young people are an invaluable resource, many lack financial literacy and the ability to invest wisely. He encouraged students to take advantage of the opportunities before them. “The opportunities are here, let’s make the most of them,” he said, adding that good investment habits will help students avoid the financial burden of student loans.

He also encouraged students to invest the small amounts they receive from the Higher Education Students' Loans Board (HESLB) in various ventures to grow their wealth. "Starting early will make you wealthy in the long run," he said.

Dr. Lulu Kaaya, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at UDOM, shared that despite efforts to address youth unemployment, the job market has not expanded sufficiently. This has highlighted the need to equip students with entrepreneurial and self-employment skills.

Dr. Gloria Mheta, Founder and Executive Director of the Save Youth Dreams Foundation (SYDF), added that the seminar would help students understand the benefits of investing and entrepreneurship.