ESCOM Acting Director of Planning and Development, Charles Kagona, told journalists after the signing ceremony in Blantyre on Tuesday that he hopes this initiative will enhance social and gender inclusion in the country.

“We have granted scholarships to 25 students, 16 from Malawi Polytechnic and nine from MUST to minimize barriers that girls face to complete tertiary education,” said Kagona.

He added that the agreement will also allow students to do internship at ESCOM to have practical exposure.

He however warned the students that going forward, the four-year agreement will only be sponsoring three best female students every semester in order create competitiveness among students.

“Our expectation is that the students will maintain their performance and discipline. If we see something to the contrary, the scholarship will be revoked,” he said.

MUST Vice Chancellor, Professor Address Malata, has asked female engineering students to utilize the opportunity to achieve both personal and national development.

“The girl child faces a lot of hiccups to complete studies. I therefore urge other partners in the private sector to emulate ESCOM’s gesture,” said Professor Malata.

ESCOM started provision of merit scholarships for best performing female engineering students in 2017.

This has increased the number of female workers in the engineering department at ESCOM from 7 to 14 percent.