Minister of Education, Science and Technology Bright Msaka has commended the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) for establishing an Endowment Fund, describing it as a bold and visionary initiative that will strengthen long-term university financing and broaden access to higher education.
Speaking at the launch and fundraising Golf Tournament in Blantyre on Saturday, Msaka noted that the initiative marks an important milestone in promoting a sustainable and inclusive learning environment for future generations.
Msaka emphasised that the Endowment Fund is more than a financial instrument, calling it a symbol of trust, faith, and commitment to the youth of Malawi. He praised MUBAS for its leadership, innovation, and strategic foresight, adding that the event was a celebration of resilience and strong partnerships within the higher education sector.
He stressed that every student who drops out represents a lost opportunity for families, communities, and the nation, underscoring the need for sustainable solutions to support learners. He also acknowledged the government’s ongoing efforts under His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika to ease financial burdens through student loans and grants.
Hon.Msaka expressed confidence that the fund will support scholarships, research, and improved facilities, thereby ensuring long-term stability and relevance for MUBAS. He further linked the initiative to Malawi’s aspiration of attaining upper middle income status by 2063, highlighting ongoing government reforms aimed at strengthening higher education infrastructure, digital learning, and policy frameworks.
The Minister urged stakeholders including alumni, the private sector, and development partners to support the Endowment Fund, describing every contribution as an investment in Malawi’s most valuable asset: its people. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that no student is denied education due to financial hardship and called for collective effort to sustain the fund’s impact for generations to come.
In her remarks, MUBAS Vice-Chancellor Professor Nancy Chitera described the establishment of the Endowment Fund as a long-term and sustainable mechanism to support needy students and complement existing government loan programmes. She noted that although the university continues to partner with organisations to provide scholarships, demand far exceeds the available support.
She indicated that the university management has committed to injecting K200 million annually into the fund, with a target of growing it to K5 billion within three years. Currently, the fund has already reached approximately K800 million.
