By Patience Longwe
Minister of Labour, Skills, and Innovation Joel Chigona has described the skills of young Malawians as the nation’s greatest wealth, saying technical and vocational talent will drive Malawi’s socio-economic transformation.
He made the remarks on Thursday in Lilongwe during the closing ceremony of the 2026 National Skills Competition.
Chigona said the 40 regional champions who competed over two days demonstrated creativity, resilience, and pure talent that surpasses the country’s natural resources.
“Malawi’s greatest wealth is not buried in our soil, it is alive and thriving in the hands, minds, and hearts of our youth”, he said.
He cited the performance of competitors such as 22-year-old Marshal Ngaunje from Nkhatabay, who produced flawless brickwork under pressure, and 20-year-old Hopeness Kaunda from Sonda, who turned fabric into wearable art, blending culture and modern design.
“These are not just contestants; they are the architects of our today and our tomorrow, a skill is not merely a job, it is a superpower,” he said.
He used the platform to challenge what he called a toxic narrative that treats technical, entrepreneurial, and vocational education and training as a second-class path.Chigona then urged primary and secondary school students in attendance to view technical trades as a frontline choice for wealth, independence, and pride rather than a fallback option.
Board Chairman for Technical Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA), Gilbert Chilinde, said the competition has grown in stature since 2022 and now enjoys strong backing from government, training institutions, industry, and development partners.
He noted that the contest moves from regional to national level, giving young people a platform to showcase competencies, creativity and innovation.
Chilinde said the competitions directly support TEVETA’s strategic goals of improving training quality, strengthening industry partnerships, expanding young people’s access to skills, promoting innovation, and raising the status of Vocational careers.
“When industry experts mentor participants and the nation celebrates skilled young people, the profile of TEVETA is elevated,” he said.
