By Sellah Chunda

Lilongwe, April 17, Mana: Minister of Youth and Sports, Uchizi Mkandaire has urged youth to prioritize innovation through the use of technology if they are to help in transforming the country.

Speaking during the launch of the Smart Africa Youth Chapter of Malawi which was held on Tuesday at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe, he said that as a country, they need to ensure that it was on par with other African countries in terms of innovations.

“We are living in a global village where a lot is happening across the globe, and top on the agenda is digitalization, there are many challenges we face as a country, such as access to electricity and the internet.

"We must ensure that as a country, we progress in digitalization to be on par with other countries, it is crucial to work on these issues so that every Malawian has access to the internet and can transact digitally,” Mkandawire said.

He added as the Ministry they have made it a policy to involve young people in science, technology and innovation.

"In our youth programmes, we prioritize these pillars to ensure that all participants have access to technology and can be innovative," the Minister said.

Smart Africa Director General, Lacina Kone hailed the country for launching Smart Africa Youth Chapter of Malawi.

“Our aim is to transform Africa into a digitally united continent. In doing so, we will significantly contribute to training youths in various technologies and enhancing their capabilities in the digital world, this youth chapter in Malawi will benefit anyone, regardless of their level of education,” he explained.

One of the youth, Wezzie Salima expressed appreciation for Smart Africa support saying it would help youth in the country to acquire knowledge in ICT and utilize it effectively in addressing digital gaps among youth across the country.