The National Construction Industry Council (NCIC) in conjunction with the Lilongwe Technical College have graduated eleven (11) students who have been studying for a Certificate in Construction Management.
The graduands have been undergoing the course since April, 2021.
Speaking during a colourful gradiation ceremony held at Lilongwe Technical College, the Board Chairperson for NCIC QS Jeremiah Magaba called upon the graduands to ensure that they utilise the skills and knowledge they have gained in the course for improvement of quality of infrastructure their construction firms will be executing.
“Let me point out that this is a very important course for us as NCIC. This course was introduced after noting that there are a lot of Malawians opening construction firms who do not have technical background in the construction industry. This meant that we had a skills gap in as far as ensuring that we maintain high quality construction works is concerned. I therefore expect this team of construction firm owners to be an example in as far as execution of high-quality construction projects is concerned”, said Magaba.
He added that NCIC Management should start considering making the Certificate in Construction Management course mandatory for any non-technical managing director of construction firms applying for upgrading to higher categories for their construction firms.
“Considering the importance of this course, and the skills it imparts in those who have undergone the course, I call upon the NCIC Acting Chief Executive Officer Eng. Gerald Khonje and your team to start putting in place measures to make this course mandatory for anyone seeking to upgrade their firms”, he added.
On his part, the Acting CEO for NCIC Eng. Khonje concurred with QS Magaba and promised that the Council will continue to offer the course in order to support the Malawi Agenda 2063 development strategy.
“As per the Malawi Agenda 2063, the third Pillar of that Policy Document is Urbanisation. One of Enablers under that pillar ‘Regulated and Controlled Infrastructure Development Planning’. By offering such a course to construction firm directors, NCIC is working towards ensuring that the quality of infrastructure in the country responds to the call by the government in the Malawi Agenda 2063. The issue of quality of infrastructure has been talked a lot, and it is time that we saw results of our initiatives”, explained Eng. Khonje.
The Principal for Lilongwe Technical College Mr. Suzgika Mvalo also echoed the need for the graduands to transfer the skills they have learnt into quality infrastructure through their respective construction firms.
“When I look at the infrastructures coming up in the country now versus the infrastructure that was done some years ago, you tend to wonder whether as a country we are making progress or not. I always give an example of the structures at Natural Resources College (NRC). Go and take a look at the infrastructures at NRC. You may not believe it that those building were constructed in the 1980s – over 30 years ago. But they still look immaculate as if they were just constructed recently. That is the kind of work that you should be aspiring to be associated with your construction firms”, explained Mvalo.
Mr Mvalo also called upon the graduands to continue networking and sharing opportunities in order to maximise and utlise the skills and expertise each one of them has.
Speaking on behalf of fellow graduands, one of them Dokiso Gamphani Chimia said they were thankful to NCIC and Lilongwe Technical College for coming up with this training programme.
“We are happy that being non-technical Managing Directors of construction firms, we now have some basic but fundamental skills and knowledge about the construction industry and how to run construction firms. We promise that we will ensure that such knowledge is utilized for the betterment of the country as a whole and the construction industry in particular”, explained Gamphani Chiumia.
Graduands seated in the graduation hall at Lilongwe Technical College
Gamphani-Chiumia speaking on behalf of fellow graduands
Acting NCIC CEO Eng. Gerald T. Khonje addressing the congregation
The NCIC Board Chairperson QS Jeremiah Magaba making his speech
One of the graduands receiving his certificate from the NCIC Board Chairperson QS Jeremiah Magaba
One of the graduands receiving his certificate from the NCIC Board Chairperson QS Jeremiah Magaba
Graduands pose for a group photograph with the NCIC Board Chairperson, the Acting CEO, the Principal of Lilongwe Technical College, and the Training and Research Director for NCIC
Graduands pose for a group photograph with the NCIC Board Chairperson, the Acting CEO, the Principal of Lilongwe Technical College, and the Training and Research Director for NCIC
Graduands pose for a group photograph with the NCIC Board Chairperson, the Acting CEO, the Principal of Lilongwe Technical College, and the Training and Research Director for NCIC