Maria David
30-YEAR-OLD Risto Ashikoto believes as a young entrepreneur everyone has a fair chance of earning an income if they use time and resources wisely.
Ashikoto started a self-funded production business named Namaloe Entrepreneurship that offers training in baking, cosmetics and detergents.
Established in 2012 in the Oshikoto Region, the company has so far trained over 1 000 people in 25 towns countrywide and continues to expand training to other towns.
Ashikoto said he has visited nine regions, teaching people to make biscuits and manufacture dishwashing liquid.
“We train people to bake biscuits and cakes, and also show them how to manufacture dishwashing liquid, car cleaner, pine gel, body lotion and face cream,” he said.
His company employs 24 people while more than 50 are self-employed after training.
Ashikoto said he hopes to see every Namibian being self-employed or at least having the knowledge to produce their own products for business or self-use.
The country’s youth unemployment rate stands at 46.10% and Ashikoto called on regional leadership to make use of the platform he offers, saying the training will help young unemployed Namibians in their efforts to develop skills and start their own business.
