Syakalima Calls for Tech-Driven Leadership as ESAMI Marks 50 Years
The Minister of Education, Hon. Douglas Syakalima, has called on tertiary graduates across Africa to take a leading role in developing homegrown solutions that address the continent’s most pressing challenges.
Speaking during the 23rd Graduation Ceremony of the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI) in Arusha, Tanzania, the Minister addressed more than 300 graduates from 41 countries.
He urged them to position themselves as policy-makers, administrators, and forward-thinking leaders capable of guiding Africa through the fourth industrial revolution without compromising its identity.
Reflecting on ESAMI’s 50-year legacy since its establishment in 1975, Hon. Syakalima praised the institution for shaping governance, leadership and public policy across the continent.
He noted that ESAMI alumni have played influential roles in areas such as public financial management, decentralisation, economic planning and digital transformation, achievements he described as “fingerprints” that deserve recognition.
The Minister urged ESAMI to champion digital learning innovations, AI-powered governance tools and future-ready skills. He warned that Africa risks being left behind if digital readiness does not accelerate, emphasising the need for robust digital infrastructure, cybersecurity investment and stronger public-private innovation ecosystems.
“Innovation is not a luxury; it is oxygen,” he said, challenging graduates to confront issues such as youth unemployment, climate change, rapid urbanisation, poverty and governance gaps. He encouraged ESAMI to remain a hub for bold thinkers and solution-driven leaders committed to Africa’s development.
Hon. Syakalima added that ESAMI’s 50-year milestone represents more than an anniversary, calling it “a declaration that Africa’s future belongs to leaders who can harness technology, uphold integrity, and build enduring institutions.”
During the ceremony, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) of Zambia, represented by Director General Professor Kazhila Chinsembu, awarded ESAMI a certificate recognising it as a higher education establishment in Zambia, a development welcomed across the region.
ESAMI Director General, Dr. Peter Kiuluku, commended Zambia for its Pan-African approach to expanding quality education beyond national borders. He praised the Zambian government for what he described as a shining example of sustained investment in education for national and continental benefit.
More than 300 students graduated during the ceremony. ESAMI, headquartered in Arusha and operating satellite campuses in countries including Uganda and Malawi, is jointly owned by ten member states, including Zambia.
