By Michael Kanaabi Dollar
While launching the ‘Motivated Impact’ campaign aimed at promoting local brands and products at the MoTIV maker space on Old Portbell road mid this week, Japheth Kawanguzi the MoTIV CEO noted that their goal is to equip, skill and scale production among local artisans and creatives as a contribution to fighting unemployment in the economy.
He said, “The creative and cultural economy where most of the products coming out of MoTIV and other local artisans plus creatives operate in, accounts for about 2.25 trillion dollars in annual GDP globally employing over 30 million people according to UUNESCO. With growth forecasts estimating the sector will account for about 10% of global GDP in the medium term, it is a critical sector that needs support from corporates and Development partners to have greater impact.”
Cathy Opondo Kasozi the Executive Director of Concern for the Girl Child and key note Speaker at the event noted that being in the world of improving the quality of life for vulnerable girls, she always wondered where next they would go after being saved from their vulnerable situations.
“After touring the MoTIV space, getting acquainted with its inner workings in the media, kitchen, wood, metal work, textile and shared work space section, I am convinced the future of the over 1000 girls who have passed through our hands is going to be great with productive innovations the size and scale of MoTIV.”
Putting in mind the fact that wealth is built through people, Kasozi said that the creative energy of the young people of Uganda will be better harnessed by makerspaces like MoTIV and promised to use her influence to lobby for more support from banks and other corporates to ensure more young people can be brought to this workspace to harness their creativity and productivity.
She added that beyond creativity and productivity, young people need to be empowered to build wealth for generations through self discipline and being taught to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to them. Young people should also be brought to the board rooms where key decisions about them are made so they can exert more influence for better decisions Kasozi concluded.
A panel discussion on the challenges of the creative industry was also held with two key panelists Marci Onsinyo an artiste and film maker alongside Evelyn Zalwango founder of V-Interiors limited and Fundi women project the key discussants.
Zalwango urged local corporates to leverage their muscle and reputation to support local artisans and creatives by buying from and investing in them. On the side of artisans she urged them to attach stories to their products to better position them and make them unique in the market.
Marci Onsinyo a film maker, exhibionist and artiste at large said Creatives and artistes need polishing in regard to sharpening their business acumen. “Many artistes are just passionate about what they do so appreciation and following from a loyal audience clouds them from the fact they need to commercialise their products.
“This is something MoTIV is working to improve by instilling a business acumen in us” she said.
Nicholas Spencer, MoTIV’s market place Lead re-emphasized the need for corporate companies to support local businesses because they employ the youth who make up to 75% of our economy. “With MoTIV supporting them in the production value chain from materials sourcing, quality control, packaging and scaling local producers can adequately meet the demands of corporate companies and supporting them will help grow the local economy reducing unnecessary outflows” he emphasized.
A number of unique products including scented candles, locally made laptop bags, and phone jacks were exhibited by the makers working with MoTIV all drumming up the need to Buy Uganda, build Uganda through supporting local producers.
