Chronicle Editor
Mbulelo Mpofu, [email protected]
LAST year marked a significant milestone for Zimpapers as it launched its flagship television channel, Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN) Prime. This launch injected a renewed sense of optimism into the broadcasting sector.
In the relentless pursuit of innovation and staying at the forefront of the industry, ZTN Prime is gearing up to introduce an exciting youth-focused programme called “Youth Emancipation.” The mastermind behind this captivating concept is none other than Craig T Ntuliki, a young and talented student hailing from Bulawayo, currently studying at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ).
Ntuliki, instrumental in making the recent Solusi High School’s speech and prize giving ceremony a success, spoke to Saturday Leisure and laid bare his plan for those who are of his age.
“As a young person, I have taken it upon myself to be exemplary among my peers. I have a background of helping my peers back then when I was at Sacred Heart Primary. I started an organisation called the Helping Hand and we would remove subscriptions towards helping orphans since Sacred Heart was also a home that had orphans and abandoned children. I guess I was born with this.
“For Solusi High School’s speech and prize giving ceremony, I was happy to work with young people and knowing their school will never be the same again as teachers will also get motivation to work and raise the banner for my former school.
“I have always loved to work with the youth that is why I will be starting a show with ZTN Prime and we are still working on the sponsorship for that show so that we start shooting. The show will give youths a platform to be heard, to contest for opportunities in any sector and we will interview youth game changers and highlight their success stories,” he said.
How exactly did he impact the school’s speech and prize giving ceremony? Ntuliki, an alumni of Solusi High School, joined forces with his best friend, Mayibongwe Maseko who is also an alumni of the institution to mobilise resources so as to give back to their former school.
This saw Corporate Chaplaincy Services donating equipment inclusive of a straight lock stitch machine, a thread over-locking machine, two industrial steam irons, a round cutter, two dragonfly domestic machines, 10 laptops and 10 tablets, a Ks-H1 straight machine, several varied accessories and fabric, balls, nets, accessories, and two kits of disciplines of the school’s choice.
Ntuliki has an artistic side and has for a while been a sidekick to perennial winner in the gospel music circuit, Harare-based Everton Mlalazi.
Not only is Ntuliki a philanthropist but he is an aspiring businessman with an eye to be the next Aliko Dangote, rubbing shoulders with of Youth Empowement Minister Tino Machakaire who is also a businessman behind Tinmac and Fossil group.
“Why fly low when the world is your oyster?” is the question that Ntuliki asks.
“What I want is to be effective and have an impact in our country as a whole and help youths get to the epitome of their dreams. That is why I want to register Youth Emancipation as a trust fund also as I want to go beyond formal discussions and reach every youth from every corner of the country. As a D’Neiru Finance co-founder to give Bulawayo youths a free entrepreneurship programme. I would be happy if business moguls, the government, and organisations approach me as we make this dream a reality,” he shared.
Ntuliki doesn’t want to be just another young person next door but he has set his eyes on leaving a permanent mark. — @MbuleloMpofu
Online Reporter