By Mary Makhiringa

Balak, December 1, Mana: Destiny College of Leadership and Development in Balaka on Saturday awarded 196 students with Degrees, Diploma and Certificates in various fields such as Leadership and Development Studies, Community Studies, Social Work and Advanced Community Leadership.

Speaking during the awards, Principal of Destiny College of Leadership and Development, Bishop Andrew Mankhanamba said the graduation fulfilled the mission of equipping people with knowledge and skills that should contribute to national socio-economic development.

He therefore appealed to the graduates to utilize knowledge and skills from the college in the society while maintaining moral values, saying no country can develop if its citizens lose moral values.

“We are crying of corruption, bribery and various abuses simply because of moral decadency and we are excluding the social wellbeing of the people. We need to bring back our lost glory,” Bishop, Mankhanamba said, adding that the college is planning to introduce local education courses to push the agenda.

Regional Director for International Christian Youths-Africa and Chief Executive Officer at Africa for Sustainable Development Goals, Dr. Joe Bonga described the graduates as problem solvers and encouraged them to make use of the gained knowledge and skills.

“Today’s graduation is a demonstration of a progressive engagement that we have been holding, and it is encouraging to see more people coming forward to enrol.

“Transformative development begins from the mindset and this is achieved once a person is empowered and is given the right knowledge and skills. This is what the Destiny College of Leadership and Development is trying to do so that the youths are the drivers of change,” he said.

Swittan Wemba, who graduated with a Diploma in Leadership and Development, said is looking forward to make good use of the knowledge and skills he learnt from the college.

“We have been taken through a long way, and in the process, we gained several skills that also made us entrepreneurs. I am geared to go out with full force,” he said.