By Jones Gadama
First Lady Professor Gertrude Mutharika has called on Malawi’s youth to put education and skills first if they want to build better lives and help the country grow.
Speaking on Friday at Sunbird Nkopola in Mangochi during the National Youth Dialogue on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, Madame Mutharika told about 400 university students from the Eastern and Southern Regions that knowledge is the surest foundation for success.
She said young people must guard their time and avoid things that pull them away from school and personal growth.
According to her, academic excellence combined with practical skills will open doors for jobs, business, and leadership.
“Your education is your power. It is what will carry you and this nation forward. Protect it. Set aside distractions that can destroy your future,” Professor Mutharika told the students.
The First Lady also linked education to health, saying informed young people make better decisions about their bodies and their futures.
She noted that discussions on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights must go hand in hand with staying in school and completing courses that lead to employment.
Students at the dialogue engaged in discussions on career choices, mental health, entrepreneurship, and responsible living.
Organizers said the goal was to equip the youth with information that helps them stay focused while navigating challenges on campus and in communities.
Madame Mutharika urged the 400 participants to go back to their universities and become ambassadors of discipline, hard work, and healthy choices.
She added that when young people invest in learning, the benefits spread to families and to national development.
The National Youth Dialogue brought together students from public and private universities in the Eastern and Southern Regions for a day of mentorship, questions, and sharing experiences.
With unemployment and social pressures among key concerns for graduates, the First Lady’s message centered on one point: books first, distractions later.
