VP launches Jubilee University

Vice-President Saulos Chilima on Saturday presided over the unveiling of Jubilee University in Lilongwe with a call to stakeholders to work together to achieve quality higher education for national development

The university will be offering a bachelor of commerce degree and a bachelor of science in public sector administration.

The new university, with a 300 students’ capacity, was founded by former Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Maxon Mbendera who passed on last year.

Speaking during the ceremony at the university’s campus in Lilongwe, Chilima said improving both quality and accessibility of higher education is a major strategy to effectively win the battle against poverty, unemployment, and over population.

“The university will go a long way in contributing to the country’s national development through quality education. It is my expectation that Jubilee University will truly reflect the class and character of the man that Justice Mbendera SC was,” he said.

Chilima urged the university council to use a strategy which ensures that the institution delivers education that is relevant and responds to the country’s development needs.

In her remarks, co-founder of the university and wife to late Mbendera, Ida Mbendera, said the institution is set to become operational.

“We are ready with all the infrastructure. We went through a curriculum development and validation process. We have cleaned our curriculum ready for the National Council of Higher Education,” she said.

Mbendera held several public offices including judge of the high court in 2009, attorney general in 2011 to 2012 before his appointment as Lord Chair of MEC in 2012.