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Founder and Vice Chancellor of the University of Lusaka (UNILUS), Professor Pinalo Chifwanakeni has emphasized the need for researchers to focus on impactful studies that improve agriculture, healthcare, and manufacturing.
Chifwanakeni said the studies should also focus on the sustainable use of natural resources which the country is endowed with.
He said this when he handed over a K500,000 research grant to the Copperbelt University (CBU), meant for the establishment of the Professor Chifwanakeni/UNILUS Research Fund.
The grant, presented during a ceremony held at the University’s Lusaka Campus, is expected to strengthen research and innovation by supporting competitive research projects that address Zambia’s development challenges.
The Professor Chifwanakeni/UNILUS Research Fund, established under the CBU Challenge Initiative, will provide competitive grants to support impactful research and further strengthen the University’s position as a leading research-intensive institution.
Chifwanakeni said the contribution was more than a donation, describing it as an investment in research that delivers practical solutions.
‘Education must never be passive. It must be an active, dynamic conduit of value addition to ourselves as individuals, our communities, and the Republic of Zambia,’ he said.
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Receiving the grant on behalf of the University, Deputy Vice Chancellor – Academic Affairs, Professor Paul Chisale, described the contribution as an investment in knowledge, innovation, and the next generation of researchers.
Chisale commended Chifwanakeni for remembering his alma mater, saying the gesture reflected loyalty, gratitude, and a commitment to advancing higher education in Zambia.
“The partnership between the Copperbelt University and the University of Lusaka demonstrated the importance of collaboration in strengthening research and driving national development,” he said.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Dean of the School of Business, Professor Chanda Shikaputo, praised Chifwanakeni’s outstanding achievements as an academic, entrepreneur, and business leader.
Shikaputo described Chifwanakeni as a visionary whose discipline, resilience, and unwavering commitment to excellence had contributed to his success and inspired many within the higher education sector.
“Professor Chifwanakeni’s decision to give back to the Copperbelt University demonstrated exceptional leadership and a strong belief in investing in future generations of researchers,” he said.
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