Kenya’s leading online marketplace, Jiji, has launched a new entrepreneurship course dubbed Jiji Academy, designed to help young Kenyans transform business ideas into profitable ventures. The free online program, titled “Zero to Profit: The Essentials of Business Building,” is a partnership between Jiji Kenya and Mount Kenya University (MKU), aimed at bridging Kenya’s entrepreneurship skills gap and promoting youth self-employment.
The launch ceremony, held at MKU’s Thika campus, marks the start of a collaboration between academia and private enterprise to provide young Kenyans with digital-first, practical business training. The initiative will be coordinated through the university’s Office of the Academic Director to drive student and community engagement.
Turning Ideas Into Profit
The Zero to Profit course is hosted on the Jiji Academy portal and is entirely free and self-paced, allowing learners to access lessons from anywhere via mobile devices. The curriculum walks participants through every step of building a business — from identifying a market niche, sourcing suppliers, and pricing products to branding, digital marketing, and maintaining customer trust.
Graduates of the program will receive a certificate of knowledge and a free Boost Package to help kickstart or grow their businesses on the Jiji platform.
Speaking during the launch, Maureen Naliaka, PR and Marketing Manager at Jiji Kenya, said the initiative aligns with Jiji’s broader mission of empowering communities through knowledge and opportunity.
“At Jiji, our mission has always been to empower people by creating opportunities — not just through our platform, but through meaningful initiatives that address real challenges,” said Naliaka.
“We see the ambition and potential in Kenya’s youth, but we also recognize that what’s often missing is access to the right knowledge. Jiji Academy was created to close that gap.”
Tackling Youth Unemployment Through Digital Learning
Kenya continues to grapple with high youth unemployment rates. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) 2023 Economic Survey, more than 1.6 million Kenyans aged 18–34 remain unemployed, with most of those working in informal sectors lacking structured training opportunities.
A 2024 GeoPoll survey also revealed that 87% of young Kenyans aspire to start their own businesses — a strong indication of the entrepreneurial spirit driving the country’s youth.
With over 22 million Kenyans connected to the internet via mobile, Jiji is tapping into the country’s growing digital infrastructure to deliver accessible and inclusive entrepreneurship education.
Building Real-World Skills for the Digital Economy
The Zero to Profit course is designed around practical learning outcomes, focusing on real-world application rather than theory. Learners can expect to gain knowledge in:
- Identifying profitable niches and sourcing suppliers
- Understanding pricing and taxation
- Branding and digital marketing
- Safe delivery and fraud prevention practices
- Long-term customer engagement and retention
This curriculum was developed to address the needs of Kenya’s vibrant but often under-supported informal business community.
“This free educational course is our first step in tackling youth unemployment and helping aspiring entrepreneurs take control of their financial future,” Naliaka added.
“We believe everyone deserves the chance to learn, grow, and choose their own path — whether that’s starting a business or gaining the confidence to pursue new opportunities.”
Partnership for Inclusive Growth
The collaboration with Mount Kenya University underscores the role of higher education institutions in nurturing entrepreneurship among students. MKU officials lauded the initiative as an example of academia aligning with market realities to produce job creators rather than job seekers.
Through this partnership, both institutions aim to drive uptake of the course among students and the wider youth community, ensuring the skills taught translate into tangible business success stories.
Driving Kenya’s Digital Entrepreneurship Agenda
Jiji’s foray into business education reflects a growing trend among digital companies to integrate capacity-building initiatives within their ecosystems. By coupling e-commerce access with entrepreneurial training, Jiji positions itself not just as a marketplace, but as a growth platform for small businesses across Kenya.
The course is now live and free for all learners through https://jiji.academy.
