Minister of Energy and Mining Jean Mathanga has said Malawi cannot achieve meaningful industrialisation and sustainable economic growth without major investments in engineering, energy, technology, infrastructure and human capital development.
The minister, speaking on Friday when she opened Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (Mubas) Third School of Engineering Conference where she also launched the School of Engineering Journal, said government was prioritising expansion and modernisation of the energy infrastructure.
Mathanga also said transport systems and digital connectivity to accelerate industrialisation, economic diversification and inclusive growth across the country were the other sectors on the priority list.
She said: “So, universities are not merely centres for academic institutions they are strategic national assets for research innovation, industrial problem solving, technology development and policy support.
“The government expects these higher learning institutions to produce practical solutions capable of addressing the developmental challenges facing our country.”
Mathanga pledged the government’s continued support to higher learning institutions to produce home grown solutions capable of addressing the country’s development and industrialisation challenges.
Mubas Vice-Chancellor Associate Professor Nancy Chitera also challenged engineers, researchers and innovators to develop practical solutions that would respond to the country’s socioeconomic challenges and industrialisation agenda.
She said engineers have a critical responsibility in designing systems, infrastructure and technologies that improve people’s lives while strengthening industries and supporting sustainable national development.
“Engineering remains central to the development of resilient infrastructure, energy systems, manufacturing capacity, mining, transport and technological advancement,” said Chitera.
She said universities must move beyond producing graduates and become active engines of national development through research, innovation, entrepreneurship and engagement with industry.
Chitera said research publication remains essential for academic excellence, knowledge generation and national transformation through evidence-based innovation and technological advancement.
Keynote speaker Innocent Musonda said Africa possesses enough resources and capacity to drive its own development without depending heavily on foreign assistance.
He argued that investing just five percent of Africa’s pension funds could generate nearly $17 billion for infrastructure development projects across the continent.
Mubas was formally established as a fully-fledged university under the Mubas Act in 2019, but started operations in May 2020. Previously, Mubas operated as The Malawi Polytechnic, a constituent college of the now unbundled University of Malawi founded in 1965.
