UNIMA STUDENT EMERGES WINNER IN ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION

One of the features that often set University of Malawi students apart from the rest is their ability to articulate ideas in essays that astound others both globally and locally. Regardless of the programme of study they are pursuing, students at the university are able to craft well-argued papers where they display mastery of the English language, while discoursing in any topic at hand. Julius Mundewele Banda, a fourth-year Bachelor of Education student majoring in Chemistry at UNIMA, recently displayed this attribute when, on July 31, 2023, he emerged national winner of an essay writing competition organized by the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) in collaboration with the African Organization for Standardization (ARSO) and AMC Group Africa. This was the 10th ARSO Continental Essay Competition, and was held under the theme of “The Role of Standardization in Promoting the Growth of Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises for Sustainable, Inclusive, and Diversified Industrial and Economic Development in Africa”.

The competition was open to all accredited college and university students in Malawi and across all African countries. The competition aimed to have three categories of winners: National, Regional, and Continental, each with three positions. In the competition, participants were expected to submit an essay with 1200 words in line with the theme. In Malawi, all submitted essays were evaluated by four judges drawn from Mzuzu University, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), National Bank of Malawi, and the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Development Institute (SMEDI).

During the prize presentation ceremony, at Crossroads Hotel in Blantyre, Banda pointed out that the writing and research skills he has acquired at the University of Malawi set him apart from the other 56 participants. This helped him to ensure that, in his essay, he organized his points carefully, ensuring a smooth and logical flow. Furthermore, he conducted thorough research on previously published scholarly works related to the competition’s theme. This research greatly helped him align his writing with the theme, resulting in an essay that impressed the judges.

As a result of his outstanding performance, Banda received an award package that included a certificate signed by the MBS General Director, Dr Bernard Thole, a medal, and a cash prize of K250,000.00.