Mutharika challenges Malawi university graduates to create jobs for themselves

President  Peter Mutharika Wednesday appealed to all Malawians including graduates to stop looking for jobs but rather create some for themselves.

Mutharika made the appeal when he presided over the first congregation of the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) since its deletion from the University of Malawi (UNIMA).

About 886 students were conferred with certificates, diplomas and degrees in various disciplines.

Mutharika said it is high time students were natured to be self reliant and developed entrepreneurial skills.

“There is need for mindset change, this is because for the past years, we have taught our students to go and hunt for jobs and not training them on how they can create jobs themselves.

“As a country we need graduates who can create jobs as well as occupy the jobs. For us to develop we must engage ourselves in productive activities particularly if we accept to become entrepreneurs,” the President said.

He was confident that with reforms being put in place by his government, a lot is going to change even the way the education system is currently being managed.

“I would like to take this opportunity to ask head of departments in various institutions of higher learning in the country to incorporate entrepreneurial lessons so we develop students who can become entrepreneurs and future business leaders.

“We need graduates who can participate in the direct investments programs and accelerate developments of this country with their acquired skills,” Mutharika said.

To the graduating students, the President advised that acquiring knowledge and skills and utilizing it effectively were too different things.

He said a degree was a symbol of the level of education someone has attained but showing the industry the usefulness of the attained knowledge and skills was the most important thing to consider.

“Show to the world that you got the degree for a purpose, it is not what the degree can do for you but what you can do with your degree,” the Malawi leader  explained empathizing that “ true education is not in what we know but what we can do with what we know.”

The president urged the graduates to poses values of hard work and integrity and fight to make a difference.

During the ceremony Prof. Mutharika was also installed as the Chancellor for LUANAR.

While accepting the crown, Mutharika clearly stated that being a Chancellor did not mean a solution to problem facing the university.

He rather said it was the duty of the university councils, deans and management to ensure that the institutions were managed effectively even in times of crisis.

“I am the ultimate authority but you got to deal with the challenges at council level because you are empowered to do so by the law of the country,” Sounded Mutharika.

Professor James Seyani, Chairman of LUANAR Council commended Mutharika and his government for the support to the university.

Seyani said creation of a conducive learning and teaching environment an addictive in the effective management of the university.

“We are determined to be the best university in the country and we thank government for its commitment and continued support,” he said.

Vice chancellor of LUANAR, Prof. George Yobe Kanyama Phiri concurred with Seyani that the college is geared to be the best in research and outreach as well as coordinated research locally and internationally.

Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) formerly known as Bunda College of Agriculture was one of the constituent colleges under the University of Malawi.

As one way of increasing public universities in the country, in 2011 government decided to dissolve the college to incorporate Natural Resources College (NRC), Chitedze Research station and the Agriculture, Research and Extension Trust (ARET).

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