Lazarus Chakwera challenges students on MW2063
President Lazarus Chakwera has challenged students in the country to be the change Malawi aspires to become.
Chakwera made the remarks during University of Livingstonia (Unilia) 16th graduation held in Mzuzu Friday.
Chakwera said Malawi is suffering from a deep wound of not producing enough valuable and exportable goods and services to generate forex and revenue necessary to pay off debts and lift millions of Malawians out of poverty.
He called on the students to be part of the army that would help Malawi engage in meaningful development, free it from foreign aid and make the economy resilient against external shocks, disasters, public health crises and global disruptions.
He said if Malawi is to graduate to low middle income economy by 2030 the graduates have a role to play.
“I am here because I strongly believe that gathered here are young Malawians who have the same conviction and hope. Gathered here are young Malawians who have been preparing themselves to make that hope a reality.
“I believed that here I would be in the company of those who are eager to do their part in graduating Malawi to a low-middle-income status by 2030 and an inclusively wealthy and self-reliant nation by 2063,” he said.
Minister of Education Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima disclosed that less than three percent of young adults in Malawi make it to tertiary education due to various challenges.
Wirima said the figure is below that of the Sub- Saharan African region which stands at nine percent and the global one which stands at 30 percent.
She said the government is working on increasing access to tertiary education.
Unilia Chancellor and CCAP Synod moderator Reverend Reuben Msowoya encouraged the students to aim at creating jobs.
“I will leave you with a question: What kind of citizens do you plan to be for Malawi? I believe you are all performers… It is also important not to ask what your country can do for you but what you can do for the country,” he said.
At least 817 students have graduated in various disciplines such as community midwifery, registered nursing, clinical medicine, education in information and communication technology, human rights and theology.
Unilia which opened its doors in 2003 graduated the students under the theme ‘Education for self-reliance and a moral society’.
