By Jenara Chirwa
Minister of Information and Communications Technology Dr Shadric Namalomba has called on the private sector, financial institutions and development partners to invest in locally developed innovations to promote industrialisation, create jobs and drive economic growth.
Speaking at the Second Mzuzu University Open Innovation Day on Tuesday, Namalomba said Malawi has the creative potential but lacks support to turn ideas into commercially viable products.
“Our greatest challenge is ensuring that promising ideas do not die because their creators lack financing, mentorship, equipment or market access,” he said.He also noted that over 70 percent of Malawians cannot afford smartphones and encouraged innovators to explore smartphone manufacturing and assembly.
Mzuzu University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Simeon Gwayi said the institution is shifting to include innovation and industrialisation in its focus.
Final-year ICT student Christopher Rayan Kuchawao was named best innovator for developing Msambizi, an AI platform that provides personalised academic support using course materials and lecturers’ recorded voices.
