NSSF saves shs.35 billion in career expo alumni

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | More than 35 billion shillings has been saved by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) from the Career Expo initiative.

Started in 2011, the annual NSSF Career Expo is a platform through which university students are equipped with skills and knowledge to increase their employment and entrepreneurship opportunities as well as financial management skills to improve their saving culture.

This year’s expo which started on Wednesday will run up to April, 26  in various universities across the country under the theme, “Discovering your Purpose”. Over 5,000 students from nine universities across the country are expected to participate in the expo. The universities are Makerere University Business School, Makerere University, Kyambogo University, and Kampala International University.

Others are Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi, Uganda Christian University Mukono in the central region, Gulu University, Islamic University of Uganda in Mbale, and Bishop Stuart University in Mbarara.

Speaking at the launch of this year’s expo at Makerere University Business School on Wednesday, the NSSF Managing Director Patrick Ayota said that 44,700 young people who enrolled with NSSF as university students have saved more than 35.5 billion shillings over the last 10 years.

“Our initiative aimed at recruiting savers at a young age couldn’t have turned out better, with over 44,700 members who were recruited as students through the NSSF Career Expo now owning more than 35 billion shillings cumulatively in savings over 10 years. It shows that starting one’s long-term savings journey at a young age is no longer a myth but is possible,” Ayota said.

Ayota also said that with the uncertain job market, it is important for young people to align their acquired academic knowledge and skills with their post-university career choices.

Moses Muhwezi, the MUBS Acting Principal, encouraged the students to use the expo, as an opportunity to prepare for their future. He added that MUBS has initiated a program to equip students with at least one vocational skill alongside the professional courses they are taught.

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