By Patience Longwe

Lilongwe, May 6, Mana: Minister of Higher Education Dr.Jessie Kabwila has called on African countries to fully embrace science, technology, innovation, and evidence-informed decision-making as essential pillars of development.

In her remarks at the 2025, Evidence for Development (Evi4Dev) conference in Nairobi, Kenya, Kabwila emphasized the need for African leaders and development stakeholders to take ownership of the continent's transformation agenda by investing in locally grounded solutions based on data and innovation.

“Africa is facing severe climate impacts, fragile health system, youth unemployment, rising debt, and diminishing international development finance.

“The continent has a lower higher education enrollment rate of just 9%, compared to a global average of 38%, and limited investment in research and development, standing at around 0.5% of GDP,” she said.

Kabwila also emphasized that data and evidence are essential for building institutions that deliver for the people and respond to their real needs.

“By embracing evidence-informed decision-making, Africans can create wealth and achieve responsive governance”, she said.

She, therefore, highlighted the need to address the gender and women's question, ensuring that development methods are engendered and inclusive.

"The future of Africa must be shaped by African knowledge, African solutions, and African resolve.

“Higher education is not just a path to jobs, it is the engine of Africa's development,” said Kabwila.

The Evi4Dev Conference brings together researchers, policymakers, development agencies, and civil society leaders from across the continent and beyond to discuss the role of data, evidence, and innovations in Africa's development.