Norway gives Luanar K1.7bn girls hostel

 Norway yesterday handed over a modern K1.7 billion ($10 million) 212-bed hostel at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) Bunda Campus in support of government’s commitment to promote girl-child education.

Speaking during the handover ceremony of the three-storey hostel fitted with elevators, touted to be the first of its kind to accommodate more than 200 students in the country’s public universities, Norwegian Ambassador Kikkan Haugen said the project is in line with his country’s main priorities on education.

He said: “Emphasis on education will continue to be one of our main priorities.”

The hostel forms part of the university’s infrastructure development programme, according to Luanar Council chairperson James Seyani.

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Principal Secretary Ken Ndala commended Norway for the timely support saying government cannot manage to construct such structures as the national budget allocations are always minimal.

Currently, Luanar has 1 600 female students and only accommodates 500 on campus. n