By Gift Chiponde

Lilongwe, January 23, Mana: Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) has expressed optimism that the commissioning of the UniPod will benefit the country through the innovations taking place at the University, which aim to create import substitutions for various products.

UniPod is a project being implemented by the Malawi government at MUBAS, with funding from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

It supports innovation, creativity, and transformative thinking for both community members and students at the university.

According to the UniPod Manager, Francis Masi, the innovations being conducted at UniPod have the potential to make Malawi a centre of creativity and innovation.

"This development will enable the country to purchase locally produced materials and products such as agriculture and industrial machinery reducing reliance on imports,” said Masi.

Masi stressed that the UniPod serves as a hub for all creators and innovators from various academic institutions, as well as non-student Malawians with the capacity-building initiatives provided by the UniPod to nurture talent and innovation.

He mentioned that they are providing also intellectual property rights for innovators and creators to protect their work from theft.

“We are working with innovators and creators by providing a platform for their intellectual property rights.

“This ensures that their work is recognized as theirs and does not fall into the hands of the wrong people,” he said.

In addition, Gift Kunyungwi, a leading mechanical engineer at the industrial park involved in the installation of equipment, highlighted that through the UniPod, they can modernize the equipment at the industrial site.

 “The industrial park can produce meat products, soya finished products and other essential products, presenting advantageous opportunities for import substitution in the country,” he stated.

He noted that most of the equipment at the site was fully donated by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, while some were refurbished by the UniPod.

“With the help of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, we received the equipment that allowed us to open this industrial site.

“It is currently being implemented at the old cafeteria, but our plan is ambitious; we want to ensure that the industrial park grows to its fullest potential,” he said.

In his remarks, Waheed Mia, an engineer leading a team developing a local handheld tractor, stated that the UniPod has improved the performance of the prototype produced at the university.

He mentioned that the tractor is part of the Malawi government’s first-year implementation plan, which focuses on agricultural mechanization and industrialization.

 “Our dream is to support government in achieving the Malawi 2063 vision through the production of locally manufactured tractors, reducing import costs for Malawians,” he said.

He added that the tractor is expected to benefit smallholder farmers who wish to use the machinery.

Mia stated that the UniPod will greatly benefit students enrolled in the faculty of engineering, helping them nurture their talents more effectively.

Mphatso Nkuonera, Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Education, indicated that the UniPod will indeed transform Malawi in various ways.

He stated that the core purpose of the UniPod is to create import substitutions, thereby easing the burden that Malawians face when it comes to innovation and creativity in the country.