By Patrick Opio
Senior Communications Officer
Lira University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jasper Ogwal Okeng has advised staff to undertake business alongside office work to avoid financial stress during retirement life.
Prof. Ogwal Okeng said that service-based ventures and others can provide additional income to a salary. “Do not leave business to only mediocres and others in town…..put the knowledge and skills you teach or learn into practice. You will have every reason to smile as you reap and bag heavy profits monthly,” he advised.
He was addressing audience at the 22nd Public Lecture on National Social Security Fund (NSSF) business innovation knowledge and skills at Public Health Board Room on 2nd October 2025.
TOPIC: NSSF Hi- Innovator Foundation Course.
Presenter: Mr. Olweny Denish Sam and Mr. Ahabwe Godwin
Moderator: Ms. Adong Juliet
“We should start planning for a soft landing approach to old age now to avoid lamenting as poverty strikes tomorrow. Students equally should wake up and do business to supplement their parents’ efforts in meeting their educational needs,” Prof. Ogwal Okeng adds.
Prof. Ogwal Okeng further notes, “colonial education taught us badly…. cramming things, reading and writing without practical skills being put into practice. Now the trend is changing, do it practically.”
Mr. Ahabwe Godwin of Associate Challenges Uganda, while making the presentation named examples of small business ideas in Uganda as Agribusiness (poultry, dairy, crop farming, and food processing), adding that services (cleaning, mobile money, event planning, and tutoring), Retail (apparel, hardware, and food products), and Technology-driven businesses (online retail, graphic design, and digital marketing).
Mr. Ahabwe noted that leveraging local resources, meeting market demand, and focusing on areas like food processing, textiles, and digital solutions can lead to profitable ventures.
On Hi-Innovator Business Foundational Course (online), Ahabwe said, it is an intensive interesting course that tackles the critical business foundational gaps hindering one’s business’ sustained growth. “The course empowers you to overcome the foundational challenges and finally unleash your business’ full potential,” he noted.
Mr. Olweny Denish noted that the Course Curriculum of the NSSF Hi-Innovator Business Foundational Course use modules like Personal Development for a Small Business Entrepreneur, evaluating your business product/service, how to build a great team and building and executing an effective strategy.
“The Course is done online and at your own pace before applying for the financial support,” he said, adding that institutions like Lira university may apply to join the Enterprise Support Organisation(ESO) group for re-financing of businesses being undertaken.
He said that NSSF’s equity grant is given to progressive enterprising businesses on appraisal and doing due diligence by the Business Development Team.
Dr. Laury Ocen, the Senior Lecturer lauded NSSF’s Hi-innovator Business Foundational Course for offering an opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs. “As Lira University, we are happy with the presentation, please financially support our staff and students doing business,” he said.
Dr Ocen advised that those who want the financial support should better prepare for the accelerator opportunities to leverage flexible self-directed actionable learning to upskill themselves and get their businesses ready.
“The lecture brings audience closer to reality….to what happens on the ground, not just academics,” he adds.
