Hon. Deus Sangu, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office – Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, had the opportunity to visit and inspect the implementation of the Apprenticeship Training Programme at Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST), Rukwa Campus. During his visit, he witnessed firsthand how the programme equips young people with practical skills that enable them to become self-employed, create employment opportunities for others, and contribute to national development.

The Minister stated that the Sixth Phase Government, under the leadership of Her Excellency President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, continues to invest in empowering young people through apprenticeship training. In the 2025/26 financial year, 5,746 youths benefited from apprenticeship training in 46 institutions across the country, with the Government covering tuition fees, health insurance, and transportation costs for industrial practical training.

He emphasized that this investment is a significant step toward preparing young people for the labour market and strengthening their capacity for economic self-reliance. He further noted that the Government will continue to explore employment opportunities both within and outside the country to ensure that graduates of the apprenticeship programme are able to apply their skills productively.

The Minister also announced that graduates of the 2026 Apprenticeship Training Programme will begin receiving start-up tools to enable them to establish self-employment immediately after graduation, thereby increasing their contribution to productivity and community development.

He was also encouraged by testimonies from apprentices, including Digna Sebastian John, who shared that the training had equipped her with practical skills for self-employment. Such testimonies, he noted, demonstrate that the Apprenticeship Training Programme is an effective solution to addressing youth unemployment in Tanzania.

Prof. Asheri M. Mwidege, Principal Rukwa Campus College, delivering his remarks. He stated that Rukwa Campus College is fully committed to implementing, protecting, and sustaining all government-initiated projects entrusted to the Campus.

He further appealed to the people of Rukwa Region to collaborate with the Rukwa Campus College in encouraging their youth to enroll at the College, noting that awareness and enrollment among the local community remain relatively low.

In addition, Prof. Mwidege appealed to the Minister for support in providing 90 desktop computers for the College. He explained that the College has a fully established computer laboratory with complete infrastructure, including electrical installations, structured network cabling, and internet connectivity, but it currently lacks computers. He emphasized that the provision of these computers would enable the laboratory to become fully operational and significantly enhance practical teaching, learning, research, and digital skills development for students.

Hon. Deus Sangu, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office – Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, exchanges greetings with various leaders upon his arrival at Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST), Rukwa Campus, on 18 July 2026 to assess the progress of the implementation of the Apprenticeship Training Programme.

Simon Fransisco William, an apprentice trainee, explained the process of designing and assembling motor starters for industrial electrical systems and machinery. The practical demonstration showed the hands-on technical skills acquired through the Apprenticeship Training Programme, preparing for training for employment and self-employment in the industrial sector.

Happy Mwanisenga, an apprentice student, demonstrating and explaining the techniques involved in domestic electrical wiring installation.

Apprentice students showing their government-provided insurance cards as part of the support services offered to trainees.