By Linda Kwanjana
The National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc has given K12 million to the Tertiary Students Sports Association of Malawi (TESSAM) to support the national sports festival in Lilongwe this weekend.
The cheque handover was conducted on Wednesday at the bank’s head office in Blantyre, marking another milestone in NBM plc’s ongoing commitment to youth and tertiary education development.
The much-anticipated TESSAM Sports Festival will bring together students from over 15 universities, both public and private, and will be hosted across three major venues: African Bible College (ABC), Bambino School, and the Bingu National Stadium.
Speaking after presenting the cheque, NBM plc’s Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager, Akossa Hiwa, emphasised the Bank’s deep-rooted dedication to empowering the country’s youth.
“NBM plc believes in youth development, and it also believes in the development of tertiary institutions. This is part of a comprehensive strategy that we have towards youth engagement—ensuring we support them in all spheres during their studies,” said Hiwa.
Hiwa highlighted that this is not the first time the bank has supported TESSAM, having also contributed in 2024.
“In addition to this K12 million donation, we have other ongoing initiatives by the Bank aimed at supporting youth, including a university-based college basketball program that has significantly contributed to the development of basketball in Malawi. Furthermore, the Bank continues to run its ‘More Excellence Program,’ which includes scholarships, mentorships, the provision of academic equipment, and performance-based student awards.”
“This is all part of our integral plan to target and engage with our youth stakeholders, who are part of the ‘Bank of the Nation’. They graduate and grow with us, and go on to work with us in different spheres of development and the economy,” added Hiwa.
TESSAM Treasurer Tadala Namaona expressed immense gratitude on behalf of the association, describing the donation as both generous and unexpected.
“We have received this with much joy because we did not expect it. I know the National Bank does a lot for the country, but this was a surprise. They supported us last year, but this year’s support has more than doubled. We are very happy with this sponsorship.”
“With the coming in of the National Bank, we know it is going to be an even greater event than what we had last year. It means more resources, better organisation, and more exposure for our athletes,” said Namaona.
The TESSAM Sports Festival is expected to draw large crowds, competitive teams, and a renewed spirit of youth development.
