In a move aimed at strengthening youth employability and supporting national efforts to reduce unemployment, NBC Bank has allocated TZS150 million to sponsor vocational training for 588 young Tanzanians under its “NBC Wajibika Scholarship” programme.
The initiative, launched in Dar es Salaam on April 21, 2026, is being implemented in collaboration with the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA), with the first phase focusing on Morogoro and Mwanza regions, areas identified as having strong demand for technical and vocational skills.
Speaking at the launch, NBC Managing Director Theobald Sabi said the programme reflects the bank’s commitment to complementing government efforts in addressing youth unemployment, which remains one of the country’s most pressing socio-economic challenges.
He said Tanzania’s demographic structure, where more than 70 per cent of the population is under the age of 35, presents both an opportunity and a challenge, as between 800,000 and one million young people enter the labour market annually, many without adequate skills.
“This situation contributes to low productivity employment and, in some cases, pushes young people into unproductive activities. Our intervention is designed to change that by equipping them with practical and market-relevant skills,” Sabi said.
He said the scholarship will support training programmes lasting between three and six months at VETA centres in Morogoro and Mwanza.
Each beneficiary will also be opened an NBC KuaNasi account to promote financial inclusion and encourage early engagement with formal banking services.
Sabi added that the training areas have been selected based on labour market demand, focusing on electrical installation, mechanical engineering, construction, as well as hotel and tourism services.
He further said that beyond technical training, beneficiaries will benefit from NBC Business Club platforms, which will provide financial literacy training, entrepreneurship guidance, and access to business development and investment opportunities.
“This is not only about training. It is about preparing young people to become job creators rather than job seekers,” he said.
On his part, VETA Director General Antony Kasore said applicants for the programme must meet basic literacy requirements, fall within the eligible age group, and pass the selection process.
Kasore said the initiative represents the first phase of the programme, with additional phases expected to expand opportunities to more young people across the country.
He said VETA is currently implementing an ambitious national plan to train 120,000 youth annually. So far, more than 101,000 young people have already benefited from vocational training programmes.
He added that the Government is continuing to expand vocational training infrastructure, including the construction of 65 new VETA colleges in different districts, with the aim of bringing training services closer to communities.
The NBC Wajibika Scholarship is expected to contribute to national efforts to bridge the skills gap, improve youth employability, and support entrepreneurship by equipping young people with practical competencies aligned to labour market needs.
Stakeholders have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that aligns with Tanzania’s broader development agenda of empowering youth and strengthening the role of technical and vocational education in economic transformation.
