Financial service provider, Old Mutual Malawi has made a donation of K5.7 million to support hosting of the 5th season of the African Spelling Bee Championship in Blantyre, Malawi where students across nations in the region will compete.
Speaking after making the presentation, Lewis Mbaula, CEO for Malawi Bee competition hailed the financial support which he believes will help the organisers to run a smooth competition that will be held at Golden Peacock Hotel in Blantyre on Thursday and Friday this week.
He added that the representatives who he believes will raise the Malawian flag at the competition, are from Atsikana pa Ulendo, Zomba Urban Secondary, Sir Harry International High School, Kasangu Primary school in Dowa, Diversity academy in Chikwawa, Puteya primary school in Machinga, Chinguluwe primary school in Salima and Eagle Nest Academy.
“For Malawi we have nine kids who have been camping at Hapuwani lodge in Mulanje, they have been coached, they have been tipped how to bring the trophy home and all the representatives are really promising to bring home,” said Mbaula.
Over 70 children from 16 African countries are expected to compete for the junior and senior categories of the coveted title of this year’s African Spelling Bee Competition.
Speaking at the cheque presentation ceremony, Old Mutual Group Human Capital Executive, Rex Kadzongwe said the gesture is because the company always take pride in supporting initiatives that enhance education in the country.
Kadzongwe said the competition which is the mother of National Spelling Bee Competition, is in line with Old Mutual’s responsible business philosophy where they want to positively impact communities they operate in as well as to demonstrate shared value in education as a tool that contributes to social and economic development.
He also hinted that the financial service provider’s support to such initiatives is because it wants to significantly contribute towards achieving goal number four of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and also the Malawi 2063 agenda.
“We are seeking to help our country fulfil its aspirations, as a company and through our Old Mutual (Blantyre) Foundation we are investing in education through other programs like skills development, secondary school bursary support and others,” said Kadzongwe.