President Peter Mutharika has asked people to serve the country with every ability and innovation they have.
The President made the remarks at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Saturday evening during the 2017 Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Innovation Awards ceremony.
the 2017 Innovator of Innovators
“Our spirit of innovation is what will change this country. It is inspiring to see that Malawi has many people who are innovative.
“It is our duty to honour them; encourage them and inspire them,” said Mutharika, adding that, it was why they had gathered to celebrate the spirit of innovation in men and women from all walks of life.
He said it takes love to fight for one’s country, and that it takes innovative thinking to win and that it was a patriotic spirit to see the need to tell the world that Malawi is a nation of achievers.
The President further said it is such spirit that can develop this nation, and that in developing the nation, everyone can make a difference.
MBC director general Aubrey Sumbuleta said the 2017 MBC Awards marked a milestone in the corporation’s quest to serve the nation as a public broadcaster.
Each awardee received a trophy, a certificate and K1 million from MBC, and an offer of a month-long visit to China.
According to a panel of judges, which was chaired by Fr Frank Mwinganyama, the winners in the various categories were as follows: Agriculture—Angela Lanjesi; Environment—Thukuta Nandolo; Health—Raphael Piringu; Small-scale Entrepreneurship—Matius Juwaki; Disability—Chrisford Chayera; Education—Mark Kampira; Art and Culture—David Kachepa; Science and Technology¬—Mayamiko Nkoloma; Large-scale Entrepreneurship—Ken Chilewe; and Sports—Kanduwa Sande.
While families of the late Bernard Kwilimbe and Smart Likhaya Mbewe each received a trophy and K1 million, Kampira, who emerged the 2017 Innovator of Innovators, received an additional K2.5 million.
Kampira was recognised for teaching over 300 Standard One to Seven children in a remote area of Traditional Authority Kunthembwe in Blantyre.
The 2017 awards were sponsored by, among others, Khato Holdings, Khato Limited, South Zambezi, Uncle Jose, Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must), Press Trust, Malawi Post Corporation (MPC), Teveta, MultiChoice, Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra), Alliance Capital, Egenco and Escom
