^{Launch of BEST-BYOB 2024 for University Students at UPM
(from left to right) Hazina Binti Mohamad, Head of International Business and Product Development Division, Perbadanan Nasional Berhad; Dato’ Adissadikin Ali, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of RHB Islamic Bank Berhad; Haris Bin Dahlan, Director of Centre for Management of Waqf, Zakat & Endowment (WAZAN); and Prof. Dr. Arifin Bin Abdu, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Universiti Putra Malaysia.} 


KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 (Bernama) --  RHB Islamic Bank Berhad (“RHB Islamic”) launched the B40 Empowerment Strategy-Be Your Own Boss (“BEST-BYOB”) 2024 Programme at Universiti Putra Malaysia (“UPM”) recently.
 
The BEST-BYOB 2024 programme, a collaboration between RHB Islamic and Perbadanan Nasional Berhad (“Pernas”), serves to empower asnaf university students from an economic aspect, expanding from its successful 2022 launch. For the first time, eligible and interested students can participate in a pre-franchise business programme, equipping them to begin their entrepreneurial journey. RHB Islamic has allocated up to RM200,000 for the collaborative BEST-BYOB programme with UPM.
 
Apart from financial assistance, these university participants will be equipped with knowledge and practical skills. This support can help students in the long term and create a generation of financially independent young entrepreneurs.
 
Six pre-franchise brands – Kuhot, Old Time Sengkuang, Keropok Getel, Bubur Ayam Dahlia, OSB, and Mr Chicck – will offer business packages to selected students, providing them with real-world opportunities.
 
“RHB Islamic is committed to supporting the agenda of empowering entrepreneurship among students. The BEST-BYOB programme that has been expanded at the university level is a testament to our commitment of helping university students change their lives and living standards as student entrepreneurs. Through the BEST-BYOB Programme, the selected student entrepreneurs will receive guidance to run their business and continuous monitoring. With early exposure in the field of entrepreneurship, we hope that these students will have a competitive edge and be well-prepared to take on business challenges after graduation,” said Dato’ Adissadikin Ali, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of RHB Islamic Bank Berhad.

Prof. Dr. Arifin Abdu, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UPM, added, “UPM is proud to collaborate with RHB Islamic and Pernas on this transformative initiative. Preparing our students with practical business skills fosters their entrepreneurial spirit and paves the way for their future success. This programme aligns with UPM’s commitment to nurture well-rounded graduates who are knowledgeable and also marketable in the future workplace.”
 
Universiti Putra Malaysia is the first university to collaborate with RHB Islamic on this programme. The Centre for Management of Waqf, Zakat and Endowment (“WAZAN”), UPM, also plays a role in managing asnaf students, especially in the fields of entrepreneurship and business.
 
The Student Affairs Division and Centre of Entrepreneurial Development and Graduate Marketability (“CEM”) on the other hand, play a role in regulating entrepreneurial activities carried out by students in residential colleges by ensuring that the need for student entrepreneurial activities is intensified.
 
Aligned with Bank Negara Malaysia’s (“BNM”) vision of financial inclusion, this programme directly addresses Strategic Thrust 5 of the Financial Sector Blueprint 2022-2026. This programme is an extension of BNM’s iTEKAD initiative, which mobilises social finance instruments such as zakat, wakaf, and sadaqah to support low-income micro-entrepreneurs. By leveraging RHB Islamic’s zakat wakalah initiative, BEST-BYOB gives opportunities to underprivileged communities to uplift their financial situation.
 
For more information on the BEST-BYOB programme, please visit http://www.rhbgroup.com/byob.

SOURCE: RHB Islamic Bank Berhad

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Name: Agnes Ong
Email: agnes.ong@rhbgroup.com