The Minister of Energy awarded prizes to at least 16 Basotho entrepreneurs that participated in the Global Cleantech Innovation Program at the event held in Maseru on Thursday.
While handing over prizes, Professor Nqosa Mahao applauded the entrepreneurs, saying this is a step by Lesotho towards enhancing its readiness on promoting clean tech and also keeping Lesotho in the front line of innovation.
He said that with this event, it is the first year of successful promotion of advancing and growing clean tech innovations within the country.
Professor Mahao however mentioned that as innovation is celebrated, it is equally important to take into consideration the challenges of climate change that Lesotho is faced, saying it hits badly on the most vulnerable households which he indicated that need innovative ideas to urgently address to them.
The Project Manager of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Mrs. ‘Marorisang Makututsa said the objective of the program is to strengthen capacities of private sector and government agencies in the clean tech space.
She said it is also to engage with stakeholders to discuss issues that hinder progress of clean tech innovations within the country.
Mr. Tšepo Ntho, one of the panellists in the program said there is an urgent need for the government to address lack of resources that the clean tech innovators are faced with.
He added that there is also a need for the government and private sector to work together to enable the environment for innovation in Lesotho, especially in the context of climate change and sustainable development.
Mr. Ntho added that there are vast opportunities that innovators can grab as the government of Lesotho has extended that period of the NSDP II which recognised innovation and technology as the driving sectors towards growing the economy of the country.
The entrepreneurs are reported to have been enrolled in a 5 months acceleration program which equipped them with more skills on their innovations.
Prizes awarded to them ranged from M10 000, M20 000, M35 000 while the overall winner was awarded M50 000.
Source: LENA 15/12/2023
