The Dominica Agricultural Industrial and Development Bank (DAIDB) as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility launched the Hubert Nicholas Joseph Scholarship for
Entrepreneurship at its 23rd Annual General Meeting at the Fort Young Hotel this morning.
Mr. Hubert Nicholas Joseph (deceased) was a businessman by profession, who was appointed to the AID Bank Board of Directors from March 2002 until his death in August 2015.
He also served on sub-committees of the Board namely: the Industrial Estate Committee and the Risk and Asset Liability / Human Resource Committee.
Mr. Joseph was a retired civil servant and as a businessman, he co-owned and co-managed with his wife, the company named Flossie Joseph & Co. Ltd., on Old Street, Roseau. His other business accomplishments included Hubert Joseph Construction and Agricultural Farms and Properties.
The bank is granting a scholarship to pursue the two-year Associate Degree in Entrepreneurship at the Dominica State College for the academic period commencing September 2016.
It will cover: (i) the Academic cost - i.e: Tuition /Fees; (ii) Learning Materials (including a computer) (iii) A stipend toward transportation and
Incidentals.
The AID Bank continues to enhance its role and visibility as a good corporate citizen in the Commonwealth of Dominica, by supporting causes considered important to the development of the country.
Dominica’s Growth and Social Protection Strategy (GSPS) 2012-2014 indicates that an increased level of activity in agriculture and other productive sectors is necessary for achieving our economic growth targets.
The GSPS also acknowledges that micro and small business development is an important means to income and employment generation as well as poverty reduction and as such, support for productive sector enterprises will enhance the formality, operations and development of the small business sector in Dominica.
In response to the age old question of whether entrepreneurship can be taught, some are of the opinion that while entrepreneurs cannot be created, budding entrepreneurs can be given tools and information to help them create successful business ventures and hopefully to avoid some of the common pitfalls in the process.
In his presentation of the Hubert Nicholas Joseph Scholarship this morning, Director Simpson Gregoire commended the Dominica State College for introducing this very important subject into their curriculum.
He stated “the bank’s own experience over the years has confirmed the need for an increase in entrepreneurial training and development. Becoming an entrepreneur is a career decision like any other”.
He said that “in offering this scholarship we are encouraging young persons to do their homework, critically examine whether this is the path for them, and if it is, then to arm themselves with an education that will help them to succeed”.
The Bank also announced the second Elford Henry Scholarship for Agriculture for the September 2016 academic period at the Dominica State College.