What was meant to be a farewell gala for final year students at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) on Friday night turned to be a stage for some great reunions, music and dance.
This was the first time that a cohort of students at Luanar funded their own gala dinner and this group did it to the tune of K4.5 million (US$10 000), much of which they mobilised among themselves.
Chairperson of the organising committee, Michael Mabiya, said the students were resolute in their pursuit to make their finale gala memorable.
First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Esther Mcheka-Chilenje, an alumnus of the college, was all praise for some of the teaching staff from her student days who were present at the function, notably Dr Elias Chakwera; now also a parliamentarian.
And seemingly not to be outdone, Luanar Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Emmanuel Kaunda also showered praise on Dr Chakwera, revealing the latter was once his teacher at Chaminade Secondary School in Karonga.
Guest of honour, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology Vincent Ghambi, loaded his speech with words of encouragement to the prospective graduates.He said: “Even in the midst of rising unemployment levels, I want to convince you with the fact that there’s always room at the top, and I know you are going to make this country proud owing to the fact that Luanar has prepared you efficiently for the world.
“Above all, start to nurture the spirit of entrepreneurship within yourselves. There are so many possibilities in this regards. All the developed economies rely on well trained entrepreneurs and fresh graduates remain high on that innovators’ list.”
But the prospective graduates were never to be denied. After all, the night belonged to them. And they embraced it with all their might!
After all the dust from the speeches settled, the night started to glimmer and apart from the dinning, the students’ awards stole the night with Rawland Kamanga and Dorris Simenti scooping the outstanding student award.
Also on parade on the night was fashion with most ladies dressed to kill.
And then came music time where dance and performances coloured the night even brighter as it wore. Even Mcheka-Chilenje and Ghambi threw their Parliamentary gowns down to freely mingle with the jubilant students whose prospects for jobs were made even brighter with the high-ranking alumni among them.
