The Vice President of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has challenged graduates from the Catholic University of Malawi (CUNIMA) to make a difference in the country after acquiring skills in various disciplines.
Speaking during the awarding of academic certificates, diplomas, and degrees last Saturday at the university’s main campus in Nguludi Chiradzulu district, Rt. Rev. Monfort Stima challenged the graduates to help bring solutions to the problems faced in Malawi.
Bishop Stima explained that Malawi is clipped with challenges despite producing graduates in various fields.
“My main message to the graduates is that they should make a difference and bear fruit by being innovative and taking initiatives that bring a difference to the country. They have learned a lot here that would actually empower them to create jobs, which is among the challenges that Malawi is facing.
He also urged the graduates to embrace the spirit of leadership that will complement them in making a difference in Malawi.
Concurring with Bishop Stima, Guest of Honour at the ceremony, the Managing Director of Centenary Bank in Malawi, Zandile Shaba, urged the graduates to be entrepreneurs as a way of solving the high unemployment rate problem among the youths of the country.
“Banks such as Centenary are really looking at ways to support young people, and the youth are our top priority because we realise that to build Malawi, we need to find ways that people can create employment and not just look for employment,” said Shaba.
She added that the Centenary Bank is looking forward to empowering youths across sectors that build the economy of the country.
During the 22nd Congregation of CUNIMA, 1,369 graduates were awarded certificates, diplomas, and degrees in various disciplines.
The congregation was held under the theme Go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.” (John 15:16)
Established by the Catholic Bishops, the Catholic University of Malawi has seven faculties, namely, Commerce, Education, Law, Nursing and Midwifery, Science, Social Sciences, and Theology, that offer over thirty accredited programmes by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) in Malawi.