Gordon Institute launch development academy

The keynote address was given by Minister of Small Business Development, Lindiwe Zulu.

Director of the academy Yogavelli Nambiar said small to medium size businesses were the bedrock of the South African economy and the academy would provide business education to support individuals to grow and prosper. She added that this support would help resolve some of South Africa’s social and economic challenges.

The academy will educate and support prospective entrepreneurs, equipping them with the appropriate business knowledge. Dean of the Gordon Institute of Business Science, Nick Binedell said, “When I think of entrepreneurs, they have the wind behind them, but many do not. The academy will give people that wind through practical business knowledge which will help the growth of small businesses.”

CEO of MSG Africa Investment Holdings and founder of Power FM, Given Mkhari shared his inspiring story of going from community radio presenter to media company CEO. He said though capital was important for business, being taught the necessary skills to run a business was integral.

Zulu praised the academy’s partnership with government and said they would reach out to small and medium business owners, offering them the knowledge and assistance needed. She added, “We realised that people don’t have the necessary information to move forward, and our main responsibility in government is to find the existing structures we can use to get this information to people in the rural areas.”

The academy will include contributions from participants in the private and public sectors, and through a scholarship-based model will give small business owners, who might not be able to afford it, the opportunity to gain from the education offered at the academy.