COMMISSION for Science and Technology (Costech) has encouraged young people to develop productive innovations for the nation, noting that doing so will enable them to find investors to help develop those innovations.

Dr Amos Nungu, Costech director general (pictured) made the statement over the weekend while speaking to journalists at the ninth Sahara Sparks exhibition to provide opportunities for creative youth to promote themselves and find investors.

Speaking during the exhibition with theme people, skills, future, Dr Nungu said one of the challenges young people face in accessing funding for their ideas is the lack of creative ideas among young people.

"We indeed have good ideas, but sometimes to get funding, your idea must be tested, this idea is tested to find out if the idea is compatible with the needs of the market, every investor looks at the business, he puts money where his money will return profit and he will continue to help others," he said.

Dr Nungu has encouraged the youth to be ready to learn, receive feedback, and change to keep up with the times, but also to attend various national and international exhibition opportunities to refine their ideas and be able to use and find investors.

"Giving the example of some young people who were advised to improve their thinking, he said that these young people got loans, they can borrow again if they need it," he added.

He said that the government has come up with a new system that will be included in the curriculum and used in schools on how to develop those children who seem to have holes by doing various innovations.

"The government is preparing a system to identify students with creative talents starting at the primary school level and then develop them to achieve their dreams, this system has officially started this year and continues to work,” he said.

Jumanne Mtambalike, Chief Executive Officers of Sahara Ventures, said that in the exhibition they are highlighting how technology, innovation and entrepreneurship will be able to change the lives of young people in Tanzania.

"We have more than 100 young people who will show their innovations and more than 1,500 visitors who will visit those innovations, our goal is to open opportunities for young people and show them how technology has a big place in their lives, but it will also help them prepare for the various challenges, especially lack of employment," said Mtambalike.

He said that in one way or another, every activity today is affected by technology and it is the one area that assures employment to young people in Tanzania, they intend to open up opportunities and increase employment.