Young Ugandans have been urged to stop waiting for perfect opportunities and instead embrace failure, continuous learning and innovation as they work towards building their careers and contributing to national development.
The call was made by Next Media Group chief executive Kin Kariisa during an engagement with young people to mark International Youth Day, where he shared lessons from his own career and the challenges and failures that shaped his journey.
Kariisa encouraged young people to be bold enough to try different things, saying they should pay attention to the challenges within their communities and explore ways of turning them into opportunities.
He also urged them not to be discouraged by failure, arguing that mistakes can provide valuable lessons that help people grow personally and professionally.
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His message centred on the need for young people to take greater responsibility for their futures by developing their skills, remaining curious and looking for practical solutions to problems around them.
Ronnie "Macvex" Musiimenta, Head of Programmes at Next Radio, said the station has a responsibility to provide platforms where young people can express themselves, receive mentorship and engage with people who have experience in different fields.
"Young people need spaces where they can express themselves, share their experiences and learn from people who have walked the journey before them. Through Next Radio, we want to continue creating conversations that inspire young people to believe in themselves and pursue their ambitions," Musiimenta said.
He said youth empowerment should go beyond annual celebrations, calling for sustained mentorship and opportunities through which young people can develop their ideas into practical solutions.
The engagement brought together young people from different backgrounds, who shared their aspirations, challenges and experiences in pursuing their goals.
One participant said the discussion offered a different perspective on success, particularly the importance of persevering when things do not go according to plan.
"Sometimes we look at successful people and think they had everything figured out from the beginning. Hearing about the challenges and failures along the journey reminds us that it is okay to make mistakes as long as we learn and keep moving," the participant said.
Another participant said the discussion had challenged young people to become more proactive in identifying opportunities instead of waiting for employment or other opportunities to come their way.
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"We have many challenges around us, but those challenges can also become opportunities. The message about studying our environment and creating solutions has encouraged me to look at what I can do with the skills I already have," the participant said.
Participants also identified mentorship, access to skills, employment opportunities and platforms connecting young people with industry leaders as important to their development.
The discussions come against the backdrop of persistent challenges facing Uganda's youth, including unemployment, limited access to capital and skills gaps.
At the same time, young people are increasingly participating in technology, entrepreneurship, creative industries and other areas of innovation.
Through youth-focused programming and conversations on Next Radio, the station continues to provide a platform for young people to discuss issues affecting their generation, engage with leaders and share their experiences.
The engagement served as a reminder that youth empowerment is not only about creating opportunities for young people but also equipping them to identify problems, develop solutions and take calculated risks.
For Kariisa, the lesson from his own journey was that success does not necessarily follow a straight path. Failure, when treated as an opportunity to learn and improve, can become an important part of the journey towards achieving one's ambitions.
