By Chisomo Phiri
As Malawi continues facing job scarcity challenge, graduates have been challenged to create job for themselves rather than relying on formal employment.
Speaking on Wednesday at Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) during the graduation of 45 students who were studying certificates in electrical installation at the institution, MUBAS Head of ODeL Dr. Annie Tamara Chizengo said to avoid frustrations that come when graduates are not employed, it is good for them to start creating jobs for themselves.
She said :” You all know that nowadays unemployment levels are high and there are so many bad things happening to our frustrated graduates such as venturing into immoral behaviors.So to avoid such things here at MUBAS, we urge the graduating students to always focus on self-employment rather than formal employment.
“We impart in them entrepreneurship skills so that as they go out, they should be able to establish and run their own businesses and in so doing creating for jobs themselves and even their friends.”
Chizengo assured that MUBAS will not stop introducing programmes that can promote self-employment among the youths in the country.
“We have so many programmes here at MUBAS that are aimed at empowering graduates to be self-employed. We want graduates who are able to create jobs for themselves and contribute to the country’s social-economic development,” she said.
On his part, one of the graduating students Kelvin Mwikhoma said he is ready to start his own business using the knowledge he has gained from the institution.
“As a graduate, I will not wait for someone or a company to employ me.I have gained much knowledge in electrical installation here and I will use that to open up my business,” said Mwikhoma.
Unemployment rate in Malawi decreased to 5.60 percent in 2022 from 5.70 percent in 2021.