Professor Machira: “Parents should start mentoring their children to stand on their own through innovation,”

Malawi must take deliberate steps to turn its large youthful population into a productive force for economic development, with agriculture, innovation and entrepreneurship identified as important pathways to greater economic participation.

The call was made by newly inaugurated Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) Professor Kennedy Machira during his Professorial Inaugural Lecture at the university’s Bunda Campus.

Speaking under the theme “Demographic Change and its Effect Towards Economic Development: A Realisation Pathway for Sustainable Human Welfare in Malawi,” Professor Machira said young people account for about 78 percent of Malawi’s population, making their participation in productive economic activities critical to the country’s future.

He said, however, that a significant proportion of the youth are not yet contributing meaningfully to economic development, while Malawi continues to face a high fertility rate and persistent poverty challenges.

Machira called for greater efforts within families and communities to prepare young people for economic independence. He encouraged parents to mentor their children towards innovation, entrepreneurship and the productive use of technology.

“Families should start mentoring their children to stand on their own through innovation and meaningful use of technology in business investments,” he said.

He also pointed to Malawi’s substantial natural resources, including land and water, as opportunities that could support economic transformation if they are used more effectively.

The discussion also highlighted the role of agriculture in creating opportunities for Malawi’s young population. Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Country Director Dr Eluphy Banda Nyirenda said young people should be equipped with the knowledge, opportunities and platforms needed to develop businesses and innovations.

She urged greater youth participation in agricultural commercialisation, saying young Malawians should be supported to produce, lead and develop enterprises within the agriculture sector.

Nyirenda also stressed that universities cannot drive this transformation alone. Government and development partners will need to contribute to an enabling environment where young people can access finance, knowledge, technology and other opportunities needed to turn ideas into viable enterprises.

LUANAR Vice Chancellor Professor Emmanuel Kaunda described Machira’s inaugural lecture as an opportunity to examine ideas that could contribute to Malawi’s future development.

The discussions placed Malawi’s demographic transition at the centre of the country’s economic development challenge, highlighting the importance of education, entrepreneurship, technology and agricultural participation in creating productive opportunities for the country’s growing youth population.