Kaonga said this on Sunday evening when he was speaking to the students at their dinner at the Amaryllis hotel in Blantyre.

“In our midst, I see esteemed engineers, accountants, architects, journalists, educationists, marketers, among others, a macrocosm of professionals capable of driving Malawi to a positive socio-economic development trajectory, the 2063 agenda inclusive. Even more pleasing is that some among you are Maranatha products.

“Very soon, you are going into the professional world where the job market is very small. The college has done its part; the other part is for you. Much as each of you has his or her field of specialisation, be reminded that the skills and knowledge you have acquired are multidimensional and multi-sectoral,” he said.

He advised the students not to be rigid by sticking to their profession when the job world offers them no opportunity but to think outside the box and explore alternatives.

“I have seen some people soaring even much higher in fields they didn’t specialise. When the going gets tough, this is not the time to relent in your search. Rather, it is time to think outside the box with a creative and innovative mind. One of the renowned literary scholars regarded as the giant of African literature, Chinua Achebe said and I quote, ‘When men learnt how to shoot without missing, birds learnt to fly without perching.

“This attests to the reality that when one door closes another one opens as long as you keep on knocking. What matters is being creative and innovative,” he said.

The Academy director narrated to the students his own journey of life to success.

“I am a living example. In fact, I am not a trained educationist, but I developed interest and ventured into secondary school business with great optimism, courage and enthusiasm. I am proud to tell you that Maranatha Private Schools has a humble beginning as it started as a nursery school in Chimwankhunda.

“However, I worked tirelessly, driven by ambition and fortitude to bring it to its current enviable status. I was determined to achieve, specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time bound goals. Currently, I am proud to inform you that what started as a nonentity, has now grown into a giant of the nation with three campuses namely, Maranatha Boys Academy at Matindi in Lunzu, Maranatha Girls Academy in Machinjiri and Maranatha Girls Capital Academy in Lilongwe.

“This is a true testimony of the fruits of being visionary, ambitious, optimistic, courageous, innovative and above all, hardworking. Please emulate and borrow a leaf from this and build your own business empires. Remember, to dare is to do,” he said.