KOTA KINABALU: The Tunas Niaga Programme (PROTUNe) continues to play a key role in cultivating entrepreneurial skills among Sabah's youth by exposing students to the realities of running a business from an early age.
Sedcovest Holdings Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Redonah Bahanda said the programme, which has been implemented in Sabah since 1997, has produced many students equipped with leadership, communication and financial management skills, while instilling the confidence to pursue entrepreneurship.
She said participants spend nine months managing their own student companies, developing products, overseeing marketing strategies, preparing annual reports and presenting their business performance before a panel of professional judges.
"PROTUNe is not merely a competition to determine winners. It is a platform to shape students' character, integrity, discipline and resilience, enabling them to become future job creators and contributors to Sabah's economic development," she said.
Redonah was speaking at the Sabah-level 2025 PROTUNe Convention Awards Ceremony, officiated by Deputy Chief Minister III and Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick at the Suria 7 Ballroom, Suria Sabah, here today.
Also present were SEDCO Group deputy general manager (Corporate Affairs and Finance) Haji Azrul Ahmad, Sabah Education Department Student Development Sector deputy director Muddin Beting, and Sedcovest Holdings general manager Yahyah Sidek.
A total of 15 student companies from across Sabah qualified for the state finals after undergoing various stages of assessment, including presenting their annual reports to judging panels comprising representatives from the SEDCO Group and partner agencies.
Redonah said Sabah remains one of the few states continuing to implement PROTUNe despite the programme no longer receiving federal funding, reflecting the state government's commitment to strengthening entrepreneurship education.
She expressed hope that more corporate organisations and industry players would support PROTUNe through sponsorships, mentorship, knowledge sharing and industry exposure to further develop young entrepreneurs in Sabah.
"Developing a new generation of entrepreneurs is not solely the government's responsibility. It requires collaboration from all stakeholders to ensure more Sabah youths are prepared to become the state's future economic leaders," she said.
Comments
Post a Comment