TAASISI YA JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE FOUNDATION NA NEXLAW WAUNGANA KUINUA WAJASIRIAMALI VIJANA TANZANIA

 Taasi ya Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Foundation (JMKF) na kampuni ya wanasheria NEXLAW Advocates ya Dar es salaam wamesaini rasmi makubaliano ya ushirikiano (MoU) yenye lengo la kuimarisha na kukuza ujasiriamali wa vijana nchini Tanzania kupitia Mpango wa JMKF wa Kuharakisha Wavumbuzi wa Kijamii wa Kijana Leo (Kijana Leo Social Innovator Accelerator).

Hafla ya kusaini makubaliano hayo imefanyika leo Aprili 28, 2025, katika ofisi za makao makuu ya JMKF zilizopo Masaki, Dar es Salaam, ikishuhudiwa na Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa JMKF, Bi. Vanessa Anyoti, na Mshirika Mwandamizi wa NEXLAW, Profesa Saudin Mwakaje.

Ushirikiano huu wa kihistoria unalenga kuwawezesha vijana wajasiriamali wa kijamii kwa kuwapatia maarifa muhimu kuhusu masuala ya kisheria, rasilimali za kufanikisha uzingatiaji wa sheria na zana za uongozi — ambazo ni msingi muhimu kwa ujenzi wa biashara endelevu na zinazovutia wawekezaji.

“Hili ni tukio kubwa sana,” alisema Prof. Mwakaje. “Tuna furaha kubwa kusaini rasmi makubaliano haya na JMKF. Vijana wengi wana mawazo bora na yenye nguvu ya mabadiliko — lakini mara nyingi hukosa mwongozo wa namna ya kulinda, kurasimisha au kupanua mawazo yao kwa njia ya kisheria. Ushirikiano huu utaleta suluhisho.”

Kupitia makubaliano haya, wataalam wa NEXLAW Advocates waliobobea katika elimu ya kisheria na uzingatiaji wa sheria kwa sekta ya kuanzisha biashara na SME, wataendesha moduli muhimu ndani ya Accelerator iitwayo Sheria, Uzingatiaji, Elimu ya Fedha na Ushirikiano na Mamlaka za Udhibiti. 

Moduli hii itawapatia vijana msaada wa kitaalam wa masuala ya kisheria, msaada wa usajili wa hati miliki, na mbinu bora za kupita katika mifumo ya udhibiti.

Kwa mujibu wa Bi. Anyoti, mpango huu umejikita moja kwa moja katika utekelezaji wa Mpango Mkakati wa JMKF wa 2023–2030, ambao umebaini changamoto kubwa kwa vijana kupata huduma za kisheria na maandalizi ya kupokea uwekezaji.

“Ushirikiano huu wa kwanza wa aina yake tunaamini utazaa matunda,” alisema Bi. Anyoti. “Huduma za ulinzi na ushauri wa kisheria zinazotolewa na NEXLAW zitakamilisha juhudi zetu za kuwawezesha vijana na SMEs Tanzania. Tunataka vijana wetu wasiwe tu waotaji, bali wachukua hatua — wenye nguvu ya kufanikisha ndoto zao.”

Programu ya Kijana Leo ilianzishwa mwaka 2021 kwa ushirikiano na Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu – Idara ya Maendeleo ya Vijana (PMO-LYED) na inarushwa kupitia AZAM TV kwa lugha ya Kiswahili. 

Tangu kuanzishwa kwake, programu hii imekuwa nembo ya kitaifa ya ujenzi wa uwezo kwa vijana, ikigusa sekta kama vile kilimo kinachozingatia mabadiliko ya tabianchi, elimu na uvumbuzi wa kidijitali.

Kijana Leo imepata mafanikio makubwa kitaifa kwa wastani wa watazamaji zaidi ya milioni 4 kwa kila kipindi na kushinda Tuzo mbili za Umahiri katika Uandishi wa Habari Tanzania (EJAT).

Kuanzisha na kudumisha biashara changa ni safari ngumu. Kupitia makubaliano haya mapya, JMKF na NEXLAW wamejipanga kuhakikisha kuwa biashara za vijana zinakuwa na uimara wa kisheria, udhibiti na fedha tangu hatua za awali — jambo ambalo litasaidia kuimarisha mfumo wa ujasiriamali Tanzania na kuufanya kuvutia zaidi kwa uwekezaji.

Mbali na malengo ya ndani ya nchi, washirika hawa wawili pia wana ndoto ya kupanua wigo wao kikanda, wakilenga kuendeleza modeli ya Kijana Leo Accelerator kote Afrika Mashariki, huku wakijenga mfumo mpana wa maendeleo ya vijana unaojumuisha uwezeshaji wa kisheria.

“Nina shauku kubwa ya kuona mustakabali ambapo vijana wavumbuzi hawatatiwa moyo tu kuanza safari zao, bali pia kupewa vifaa sahihi vya kuvumilia na kustawi,” alisisitiza Bi. Anyoti. “Mustakabali huo unaanza leo — kwa kutumia vifaa sahihi, ushirikiano sahihi, na maono sahihi.”

JMKF na NEXLAW walitoa shukrani za dhati kwa washirika wote, wadau na wafuasi wanaoendelea kuunga mkono dhamira ya kuwawezesha vijana, wakieleza kuwa makubaliano haya ni zaidi ya hati tu — ni ahadi ya kulinda, kukuza na kusimama bega kwa bega na waanzilishi wapya wa Tanzania katika safari yao ya mafanikio.

MWISHO

(ENGLISH VERSION)

Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Foundation and NEXLAW Join Forces to Empower Young Entrepreneurs in Tanzania

The Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Foundation (JMKF) and Dar es slaam based NEXLAW Advocates have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize a transformative partnership aimed at boosting youth entrepreneurship in Tanzania through the former’s Kijana Leo Social Innovator Accelerator.

The signing ceremony took place today April 28, 2025, at JMKF’s headquarters in Masaki, Dar es Salaam, officiated by JMKF Chief Executive Officer Ms. Vanessa Anyoti and NEXLAW Senior Partner Prof. Saudin Mwakaje.

This landmark collaboration marks a shared commitment to equip young Tanzanian social entrepreneurs with critical legal knowledge, compliance resources, and governance tools—essential pillars for building sustainable, investment-ready enterprises.

“This is a huge milestone,” said Prof. Mwakaje. “We’re thrilled to formalize this partnership with JMKF. Many young people have compelling, transformative ideas—but often lack a guidebook for how to protect, formalize, or scale those ideas legally. This partnership changes that.”

Under the new agreement, domain experts from NEXLAW Advocates—specialists in legal literacy and corporate compliance for startups and SMEs—will deliver a core training module within the Accelerator titled Legal, Compliance, Financial Literacy & Regulatory Engagement. Participants will benefit from expert legal advisory services, patent registration assistance, and practical navigation of regulatory frameworks, empowering them to build ventures that are both resilient and scalable.

According to Ms. Anyoti, the initiative aligns closely with JMKF’s 2023–2030 Strategic Plan, which identified gaps in legal support and investor readiness among youth enterprises.

“This is the first of what we hope will be many fruitful partnerships,” said Ms. Anyoti. “The legal protection and advisory services offered by NEXLAW complement our broader mission to empower youth and SMEs in Tanzania. It’s about transforming budding entrepreneurs from dreamers into doers—equipping them to go the distance.”

Launched in 2021 in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Office – Youth Development Division (PMO-LYED), the Kijana Leo Program started as a Swahili-language television show airing on AZAM TV. 

It quickly evolved into a national flagship for youth capacity building, impacting sectors such as climate-smart agriculture, education, and digital innovation. The program enjoys a national reach of more than 4 million viewers per episode and has twice been recognized with Excellence in Journalism Awards Tanzania (EJAT).

Forming and sustaining an early-stage company remains a daunting task. Through this MoU, JMKF and NEXLAW aim to embed legal, regulatory, and financial resilience into the DNA of Tanzania’s next generation of startups—strengthening the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and positioning it for greater investment appeal.

Beyond Tanzania, the partners are also setting their sights on regional expansion, positioning the Kijana Leo Accelerator model as a catalyst for youth empowerment across East Africa.

“I am passionate about building a future where young innovators are not just inspired to start, but equipped to endure,” Ms. Anyoti emphasized. “That future starts today—with the right tools, partnerships, and foresight.”

Both JMKF and NEXLAW expressed heartfelt gratitude to all partners, stakeholders, and supporters of the youth empowerment mission. 

They emphasized that the MoU is more than a document—it’s a pact: to safeguard, nurture, and walk hand-in-hand with Tanzania’s newest pioneers on their journey toward sustainable success.

ENDS

The JMKF Chief Executive Officer Ms. Vanessa Anyoti and NEXLAW Senior Partner Prof. Saudin Mwakaje exchange documents after signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize a transformative partnership aimed at boosting youth entrepreneurship in Tanzania through the former’s Kijana Leo Social Innovator Accelerator today April 28, 2025, at JMKF’s headquarters in Masaki, Dar es Salaam. 

 Mtendaji Mkuu wa JMKF Bi. Vanessa Anyoti na Mshirika Mwandamizi wa NEXLAW, Profesa Saudin Mwakaje wakibadilishana hati baada ya kutia saini makubaliano ya ushirikiano (MoU) yenye lengo la kuimarisha na kukuza ujasiriamali wa vijana nchini Tanzania kupitia Mpango wa JMKF wa Kuharakisha Wavumbuzi wa Kijamii wa Kijana Leo (Kijana Leo Social Innovator Accelerator) leo Aprili 28, 2025, katika ofisi za makao makuu ya JMKF zilizopo Masaki, Dar es Salaam.

The JMKF Chief Executive Officer Ms. Vanessa Anyoti and NEXLAW Senior Partner Prof. Saudin Mwakaje speak before  signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize a transformative partnership aimed at boosting youth entrepreneurship in Tanzania through the former’s Kijana Leo Social Innovator Accelerator today April 28, 2025, at JMKF’s headquarters in Masaki, Dar es Salaam. 

Mtendaji Mkuu wa JMKF Bi. Vanessa Anyoti na Mshirika Mwandamizi wa NEXLAW, Profesa Saudin Mwakaje wakiongea kabla ya kutia saini makubaliano ya ushirikiano (MoU) yenye lengo la kuimarisha na kukuza ujasiriamali wa vijana nchini Tanzania kupitia Mpango wa JMKF wa Kuharakisha Wavumbuzi wa Kijamii wa Kijana Leo (Kijana Leo Social Innovator Accelerator) leo Aprili 28, 2025, katika ofisi za makao makuu ya JMKF zilizopo Masaki, Dar es Salaam.

The JMKF Chief Executive Officer Ms. Vanessa Anyoti and NEXLAW Senior Partner Prof. Saudin Mwakaje speak before  signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize a transformative partnership aimed at boosting youth entrepreneurship in Tanzania through the former’s Kijana Leo Social Innovator Accelerator today April 28, 2025, at JMKF’s headquarters in Masaki, Dar es Salaam. 

Mtendaji Mkuu wa JMKF Bi. Vanessa Anyoti na Mshirika Mwandamizi wa NEXLAW, Profesa Saudin Mwakaje wakiongea kabla ya kutia saini makubaliano ya ushirikiano (MoU) yenye lengo la kuimarisha na kukuza ujasiriamali wa vijana nchini Tanzania kupitia Mpango wa JMKF wa Kuharakisha Wavumbuzi wa Kijamii wa Kijana Leo (Kijana Leo Social Innovator Accelerator) leo Aprili 28, 2025, katika ofisi za makao makuu ya JMKF zilizopo Masaki, Dar es Salaam.

Mtendaji Mkuu wa JMKF Bi. Vanessa Anyoti na Mshirika Mwandamizi wa NEXLAW, Profesa Saudin Mwakaje wakionesha hati baada ya kusaini makubaliano ya ushirikiano (MoU) yenye lengo la kuimarisha na kukuza ujasiriamali wa vijana nchini Tanzania kupitia Mpango wa JMKF wa Kuharakisha Wavumbuzi wa Kijamii wa Kijana Leo (Kijana Leo Social Innovator Accelerator) leo Aprili 28, 2025, katika ofisi za makao makuu ya JMKF zilizopo Masaki, Dar es Salaam. Kushoto ni  Ayoub Mtafya na Elizabeth Mlemeta wa NEXLAW na kulia ni Bi. Simiyuga Mnubi na Gloria Chilipweli wa JMKF

The JMKF Chief Executive Officer Ms. Vanessa Anyoti and NEXLAW Senior Partner Prof. Saudin Mwakaje after signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize a transformative partnership aimed at boosting youth entrepreneurship in Tanzania through the former’s Kijana Leo Social Innovator Accelerator today April 28, 2025, at JMKF’s headquarters in Masaki, Dar es Salaam. Left are NEXLAW’s Ayoub Mtafya and Elizabeth Mlemeta, right are JMKF’s Ms Simiyuga Mnubi and Gloria Chilipweli.

Mtendaji Mkuu wa JMKF Bi. Vanessa Anyoti na Mshirika Mwandamizi wa NEXLAW, Profesa Saudin Mwakaje wakitia saini makubaliano ya ushirikiano (MoU) yenye lengo la kuimarisha na kukuza ujasiriamali wa vijana nchini Tanzania kupitia Mpango wa JMKF wa Kuharakisha Wavumbuzi wa Kijamii wa Kijana Leo (Kijana Leo Social Innovator Accelerator) leo Aprili 28, 2025, katika ofisi za makao makuu ya JMKF zilizopo Masaki, Dar es Salaam.

The JMKF Chief Executive Officer Ms. Vanessa Anyoti and NEXLAW Senior Partner Prof. Saudin Mwakaje signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize a transformative partnership aimed at boosting youth entrepreneurship in Tanzania through the former’s Kijana Leo Social Innovator Accelerator today April 28, 2025, at JMKF’s headquarters in Masaki, Dar es Salaam.

Bwana Ayoub Mtafya, Mwanzilishi Mwenza wa NEXLAW Advocates, na Bi. Simiyuga Mnubi kutoka Taasisi ya Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete (JMKF) wakisaini kama mashahidi Makubaliano ya Maelewano (MoU) yenye lengo la kuanzisha ushirikiano wa kimkakati kwa ajili ya kukuza ujasiriamali wa vijana nchini Tanzania katika makao makuu ya JMKF yaliyoko Masaki, Dar es Salaam leo tarehe 28 Aprili 2025.

Mr. Ayoub Mtafya, Co-founder of NEXLAW Advocates, and Ms. Simiyuga Mnubi from the Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Foundation (JMKF) endorse as witnesses the  Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize a transformative partnership aimed at boosting youth entrepreneurship in Tanzania at JMKF’s headquarters in Masaki, Dar es Salaam today, April 28, 2025, 

The JMKF Chief Executive Officer Ms. Vanessa Anyoti and NEXLAW Senior Partner Prof. Saudin Mwakaje exchange documents after signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize a transformative partnership aimed at boosting youth entrepreneurship in Tanzania through the former’s Kijana Leo Social Innovator Accelerator today April 28, 2025, at JMKF’s headquarters in Masaki, Dar es Salaam. 

 Mtendaji Mkuu wa JMKF Bi. Vanessa Anyoti na Mshirika Mwandamizi wa NEXLAW, Profesa Saudin Mwakaje wakibadilishana hati baada ya kutia saini makubaliano ya ushirikiano (MoU) yenye lengo la kuimarisha na kukuza ujasiriamali wa vijana nchini Tanzania kupitia Mpango wa JMKF wa Kuharakisha Wavumbuzi wa Kijamii wa Kijana Leo (Kijana Leo Social Innovator Accelerator) leo Aprili 28, 2025, katika ofisi za makao makuu ya JMKF zilizopo Masaki, Dar es Salaam.