By Business Insider Correspondent, Bukombe
The Government has unveiled a landmark youth empowerment programme designed to unlock economic opportunities for thousands of young people living along the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) corridor.
Launching the Youth Economic Empowerment (YEE) Project in Bukombe, Geita Region, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr. Doto Biteko, said the initiative will equip youth with practical skills, improve access to finance, and dismantle barriers to entrepreneurship and self-employment.
“This project is about more than skills. It must go hand in hand with access to capital so that our young people can translate knowledge into businesses and jobs,” Dr. Biteko said.
The first phase of the programme will benefit 12,261 youths – including 6,130 women, 4,905 men and 1,226 from special groups – across Geita, Kagera, Tabora, and Tanga regions. Additional regions, including Singida, Shinyanga, Dodoma, and Manyara, will follow in the second phase.
Linking communities to mega projects
The YEE programme is part of EACOP’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plan, ensuring communities directly benefit from the US$4 billion pipeline project, which is already 65 percent complete.
Dr. Biteko noted that since 2022, the project has provided employment to over 9,000 Tanzanians, trained 170 youths for technical roles, sponsored 238 students in local colleges, and placed over 100 trainees in EACOP-related jobs.
“Our citizens have the right to benefit from these projects, but they also have a responsibility to protect the infrastructure as part of their own legacy,” he said, urging communities to safeguard EACOP facilities.
Strategic investments
The Tanzanian government has invested TSh 1.12 trillion in EACOP shares, with more than 200 local companies contracted for works worth TSh 1.325 trillion.
The pipeline, spanning 1,443 km from Uganda to Tanga, is among 17 strategic energy projects overseen by the Ministry of Energy, including the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (2,115 MW) and new renewable energy developments.
Youth as a demographic dividend
Clare Haule, EACOP’s Community Investment Manager, highlighted that with over 65 percent of Tanzanians under 35, empowering young people is critical to sustainable development.
“Too many rural youth face barriers such as lack of vocational training, job opportunities, and access to capital. The YEE programme is designed to break these barriers by aligning skills with market needs and promoting financial inclusion,” Haule said.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth and Employment), Patrobas Katambi, added that the initiative reflects President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s broader agenda to expand youth employment and financing opportunities. Through similar empowerment programmes, the government has already disbursed over TSh 3 trillion to reach more than 24 million Tanzanians, including women and vulnerable groups.
Community impact
Local leaders hailed the YEE programme as a game-changer. Geita Regional Commissioner Martine Shigella said residents have already benefited from EACOP through direct employment and business opportunities in food supply chains.
“Now, this project adds skills and capital that will prepare our youth not only for jobs in the pipeline project but also for future industries and enterprises,” he said.
Long-term outlook
The YEE programme aims to build lasting economic resilience, with a focus on sustainable entrepreneurship. Participants will receive training in trades aligned with local economic demand, access to financial services, and mentorship to foster growth.
Dr. Biteko concluded by urging young people to embrace the opportunities: “Seize these chances, work hard, and be trustworthy. The government will continue creating pathways for you to thrive economically and contribute to national development.”
