Luanar to reduce unemployment among its graduates
As Malawi is grappling with high unemployment rates especially among the youth, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) has come up with an innovative programme that will help the country to reduce the problem.
Unemployment is one of the major challenges the country is facing. Latest statistics from the National Statistical Office (NSO) show that the country’s unemployment rate is now at 20 percent.
Luanar deputy vice-chancellor Professor Emmanuel Kaunda said the institution came up with entrepreneurship programme to offer employment to its graduates.
He said through the programme, Luanar graduates will be attached to the university’s farm and forest for a specific period to earn a living at the same time enhance their skills.
“Through an ingenious entrepreneur skills development process, our graduates will be mentored to run and operate a commercial business to support job creation, economic growth and environmental management in the country,” said Kaunda.
He said Luanar will provide accommodation and start-up capital to support business interventions for graduates interested to participate in the programme.
Kaunda said apart from this programme, Luanar offers entrepreneurial courses to all its graduates to equip them with necessary skills to manage and run businesses.
“This is part of our mission which aims to advance knowledge and produce relevant graduates with entrepreneurial skills for agricultural growth, food security, wealth creation and sustainable natural resources management,” he said.
In March this year, when President Peter Mutharika launched Luanar, students asked government to establish a loan scheme for graduates so that they are able to start their own agribusinesses using skills gained at the institution.
