By Kondanani Chilimunthaka
President Lazarus Chakwera has urged the graduating students from the University of Livingstonia to exercise their conviction and hope that has been vindicated and realized through the completion of education so that they help I’m sharing and achieving the vision he has together with well meaning Malawians towards Malawi 2063 Vision.
“On a Friday like this one, I was at Parliament giving my honest assessment of the State of our nation, and I openly told Malawians that our beloved country is suffering from the deep wound of not producing enough valuable and exportable goods and services yo generate the forex and revenue necessary to pay off our debt, lift millions of Malawians out of poverty, engage in meaningful development, free ourselves from foreign aid, and make our economy resilient against external shocks, disasters, public crises, and global disruptions.
But I also believe that to transform a country, it is not enough to be honest. We must also be hopeful. That is why during that address, I also declared to Parliament my unshakable hope that this wound can, must, and will be healable. I stated that to heal this wound, we must do the urgent work, thus creating wealth, creating jobs, and achieving food security as we move our country towards becoming a low-middle-income as spelled out in the Malawi 2063 First 10-Year Implementation Plan (MIP-1). It is this unwavering hope that the Malawi 2063 vision will be achieved that has brought me here.” Said the President.
Chakwera who was physically attending the UNILIA graduation ceremony for the first time and has become the first President to grace the university’s graduation ceremony throughout his speech encouraged the graduands spiritually and psychologically as they venture into a new life on both employment and innovative markets.
“As you graduate today, I want you to know that you are not alone: There is a whole army of hope-givers and change-makers across this land who are eager to work with you in building a new Malawi. As you are graduating today, I want you to know that you are not ordinary: There is a God in heaven and with us who was pleased to have you come into the world as a citizen of Malawi with a unique and special contribution to make to its development.” Added President Chakwera.
In his preaching, reading from the books of Proverbs 7:1-3, and Philippians 4:16, Reverend Reuben Msowoya who is also the Chancellor for UNILIA urged the graduands to be self-reliant and create jobs for others who are jobless, and not to take their lives when they meet challenges, saying the are the ambassadors of the University of Livingstonia.
Making remarks on behalf of the Chancellor, Reverend William Tembo who is the Synod General Secretary encouraged the graduating students to be innovative if they are to be productive citizens to the nation.
“Ask not what Malawi can do for you, but what you can do for Malawi. The CCAP Synod of Livingstonia is hopeful that in you it has perfect ambassadors in advancing the Gospel through the services to humanity. Please always make the Synod proud by discharging your duties with morally.” Tembo said.
He then thanked President Chakwera for what the Synod described the President as a real servant leader who can interact with people and confirm challenges when they arise in the country.
Tembo the commended Chakwera for his directive that National Identity card must not have expiry date. He also thanked the President for the support rendered towards CHAM institutions in the country.
As it clocks 20 years of existence, the University of Livingstonia which came about as a result of Dr. Robert Laws to establish a school of higher learning in the country is currently having four campuses namely: Laws in Rumphi, Ekwendeni campus and Ekwendeni School of Health Sciences in the outskirts of Mzuzu City, and the newly opened Kaning’ina campus in the City of Mzuzu, but has intention to extend its doors to Lilongwe-Area 18 this coming June.
This year UNILIA has graduated 827 students which has beaten all time records since its inception, among whom 49 percent are female graduands.
