ZOMBA-(MaraviPost)-Minister of Higher Education, Jessie Kabwila,has described the launch of the University Device Empowerment Programme (UDEP) at the University of Malawi (UNIMA) as a milestone in the government’s vision for inclusive, technology-enabled education.
Speaking at the launch ceremony in Zomba on Saturday, Kabwila said the programme translates President Lazarus Chakwera’s directive that every student in higher education should have access to a laptop or digital device for learning.
She said under the Phase One of the programme, 1,000 laptops will be provided to UNIMA students, with affordable financing made possible through the National Bank of Malawi in partnership with Astria Learning.
Kabwila stressed that the initiative is not a one-off donation but a scalable empowerment programme designed to reach more students and institutions in the coming phases.
She explained that access, affordability, and usability are at the centre of the initiative, pointing out that vulnerable students will receive targeted support, repayment terms are flexible, and all devices come with warranties and after-sales service.
“This programme is about linking policy commitments to measurable results. Universities must establish ICT Help Desks, and I am calling on partners in industry and civil society to provide content, internships, and practical projects,” said Kabwila.
The Minister further urged other universities to emulate UNIMA’s example, aligning the initiative with ongoing projects such as the laptop assembly programme at the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST).
She described Phase One as a concrete step toward digitalising higher education and accelerating Malawi’s transition to a knowledge-driven economy.
