MINISTER for Industry and Trade Dr Selemani Jafo has urged College of Business Education (CBE) to introduce courses on online business to equip youth with skills needed to engage in e-commerce successfully.

Speaking at the college yesterday as part of his tour of institutions under his ministry, Dr Jafo called on CBE to continuously innovate and refresh its curricula to align with global trends.

He emphasised the need for graduates to be capable of conducting business both nationally and internationally, thereby contributing to development of the economy and the nation as a whole.

Dr Jafo stressed the importance of providing practical training over theoretical knowledge to better prepare graduates for self-employment and immediate employment opportunities. He encouraged the college to offer short-term programmes that build professional skills and operational efficiency.

“The government is committed to creating a conducive environment for investment and business. Therefore, the college should ensure that students are prepared to be self-reliant upon graduation rather than struggle to get employment,” he said.

He commended the college for its efforts to increase enrolment and expand its infrastructure, noting the growth in student numbers year on year. Despite these achievements, Dr Jafo highlighted the need for the college to strengthen collaborations with both local and international institutions to realise aspirations of Tanzanian youth.

“The world is evolving rapidly and business is at the forefront. We must emphasise business education, particularly online business to ensure our youth are equipped to operate internationally,” he said.

Prof Edda Lwoga, CBE Rector, expressed gratitude to the government for its support in expanding the college’s facilities. She noted that the college now has campuses in Mwanza, Mbeya, Dar es Salaam and Dodoma.

She also highlighted the college’s new apprenticeship programme, which integrates classroom learning with practical training to better prepare students for self-employment.

She mentioned successful collaborations with various institutions and companies providing practical training opportunities for students.

“The college has trained around 1,500 people in the 2023/24 financial year and we aim to reach even more,” she said. “We have signed agreements with the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and the Weights and Measures Agency (WMA) for metrology courses as well as with the e-Government Agency (eGA) to provide digital and technology solutions.”