Unicef impressed with drones project
The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) has commended the progress that the African Drone and Data Academy (Adda) has made in training youths in drones, data and artificial intelligence technologies.
Unicef Malawi representative Rudolf Schwenk made the remarks in Lilongwe on Friday during a drone flying demonstration.
Adda was established by Unicef in January 2020 and so far, the organisation has propelled two cohorts of young Africans towards academic excellence, and training of the third cohort is underway.
Schwenk said the aim of the project is being accomplished and he is optimistic about the success of the third cohort.
He said: “I am very happy to see the training of the third cohort in progress. They are young people full of energy and the hunger to acquire the skills of the 21st century that will turn them in capable professionals.
“The first two cohorts who graduated have found employment in various sectors and some have startups that will be instrumental in advancing their careers.”
A Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences graduate Alexander Mtambo, who was in the first cohort and is now an instructor at Adda, said the programme helped him establish a startup company through which he has worked with organisations like the World Bank on various projects.
He said: “Additionally, it is a great platform for networking as we meet people from various countries which facilitates the sharing of ideas.”
However, Mtambo bemoaned that many people do not appreciate the drone technology and that there are no regulations in as far as drone technology is concerned in Malawi.
Commenting on the development, Ministry of Education director of Science, Technology and Innovation Chomora Mikeka said the initiative will breed future leaders who will take technology in the country to another level.
