Speaking at the Future Youth Conference on the 24th of September that was hosted at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences in Blantyre, Ian Khonje (Founder of Oasis Brands) spoke to first and second-year students and encouraged them to take up entrepreneurship as a way to tackle problems in the society.
“Entrepreneurship is the ability to use the resources you have access to solve the problems around you. The difference between the magnittude of the problem you solve and the resources you use is the value you create”
Ian Khonje (2022)
He shared his start-up story from selling lollipops back in secondary school to founding his first business and discussed the importance of building a minimum viable product (MVPs), the power of creative branding, marketing, and positioning, and the power of a positive mindset.
Among others he stated;
- Never Stop Learning: How business works, How to Innovate, How to Grow,
- Association: Surround yourself with like-minded people and people who speak the same language
- Celebrate every win:
- Never Give up
- Use your environment and campus to your advantage
- Find a way to combine your studies to your business
He made emphasis as to how this is the best time for Malawian youth to be entrepreneurs as the opportunity has never been more prevalent. The Intra African Continental Free Trade Agreement sets out to create a large unified borderless market that will allow Malawians to trade freely with other African markets by 2040, the population of Africa is going to grow over the next 30 years to adding over a Billion people which means the buying middle class is also going to grow to make Africa one of the largest Markets. The Malawian government and organizations are supporting the youth more than ever before through mentorships, grants and funding, sponsorships, and many more.
The “Hello Future Conference” is a youth conference that seeks to inspire students in universities to aspire to success, and Oasis brands was happy to take part in this function as it solidifies our belief in the creativity and innovation that exists in the youth of Malawi and Africa at large.
Oasis Brands 