Minister Bright Msaka says Education is the Engine for Malawi’s Development

Malawi Exclusive 

The Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Bright Msaka SC, has reiterated government’s commitment to strengthening the education sector, describing it as the “only engine” for achieving sustainable development and economic growth.

Msaka made the remarks on Thursday during the 7th Congregation of the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Thyolo, where he represented His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi and Chancellor of MUST.

Delivering his keynote address, Msaka said government’s greatest investment must be in its people.
“The greatest investment any nation can make is not simply in roads, buildings or machinery, but in its people  in their knowledge, their skills, their creativity and their ability to innovate,” he said.

He linked the theme of the congregation, _“Innovating for Resilience: Science and Technology for an Industrialised Malawi,”_ to the country’s long-term vision.
“Resilience requires knowledge. Knowledge inspires innovation. Innovation creates prosperity. Those three truths capture not only today’s theme, but also Malawi’s development journey,” Msaka stated.

The minister stressed that industrialisation is not just about building factories, but about adding value to local products, manufacturing goods currently imported, and developing technologies that solve local problems. He said universities like MUST are central to that agenda.

“None of this can happen without universities. None of this can happen without science. None of this can happen without technology. None of this can happen without innovation,” he said.

MUST’s role in national transformation
Msaka praised MUST for establishing itself in just over a decade as one of Africa’s emerging universities focused on science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. He noted that MUST graduates are now serving in hospitals, industries, laboratories, schools and government, while researchers are contributing solutions in health, engineering, agriculture, climate resilience, AI and biotechnology.

He also acknowledged the support of the People’s Republic of China in constructing MUST, calling it “an important and enduring monument of the longstanding friendship and cooperation between the Governments and peoples of Malawi and China.” Through Chinese Ambassador Lu Xu, Msaka conveyed government’s appreciation.

The minister further commended MUST’s 2024–2030 Strategic Plan, saying its pillars align with Malawi 2063 and position the university as a catalyst for transformation.

A call to graduates
Addressing the Class of 2026, Msaka urged graduands to see their degrees as a responsibility, not a finish line.
“Malawi does not need graduates who wait for change. Malawi needs graduates who create change,” he said.
“The ideas you carry today must become the enterprises that create jobs tomorrow. The knowledge you have acquired must become the wealth that uplifts our nation.”

The ceremony also featured a symbolic handover of leadership from outgoing Vice Chancellor Professor Address Malata to incoming Vice Chancellor Associate Professor Mwapatsa Mipando.

The congregation concluded with congratulations to 2026 graduates and a call for stronger partnerships between universities, industry, government and communities to ensure research moves “from journals into factories, farms, hospitals and communities.”