Cool intellect, witty humor and edge of seat moments characterised this year’s Zain Africa Challenge (ZAC) season 3 National Qualifying Tournament (NQT) as eight Zambian universities engaged in a ‘fierce’ battle of wits to represent Zambia at the prestigious ZAC championship festival in Uganda.
The participating universities at the qualifiers held at Cresta Golf-view Hotel last Monday were the eight government accredited eligible universities from across the country namely: AIBT (Lusaka), CBU (Kitwe), Cavendish (Lusaka), Copperstone (Kitwe), Northrise (Ndola), UNZA (Lusaka), Zambia Adventist (Monze) and Zambia Open (Lusaka). At the end of the tournament it was CBU, UNZA, Northrise and AIBT (in no particular order) that emerged as the top four and subsequently securing themselves the four slots reserved for Zambia at the finals in Uganda next month.
Announcing the winners, Zain Zambia Managing Director David Holliday said: “Everyone is a winner in the Zain Africa Challenge. The other four universities that will not advance to the finals in Kampala will each get US$1000 for the university and US$100 dollars each for the participating students and coaches in educational grants.
“In the entire competition starting from the country national qualifiers like one held today, to the championship finals in Uganda, Zain Group is awarding nearly US$1,000,000 in total cash, travel grants and educational materials.”
And Mr. Holliday added that: “This programme highlights Zain’s commitment to developing the youth. They are the future of Africa and we want to give them more opportunities to develop their talents.”
And in a congratulatory speech, Minister of Education Professor Geoffrey Lungwanga commended Zain for coming up with the initiative. He called for united efforts in improving the lives of the people and urged corporate institutions to emulate Zain.
He also advised the students who will be traveling to Uganda to take advantage of the tournament saying: “Some of you will be flying out of Zambia for the first time and this will no doubt add to your exposure…You will learn more about other universities. But as you go through all this, my government’s appeal is that you sell your universities to students from other countries and also take time to sell Zambia as a tourist destination as you are our ambassadors.”
The Zain Africa Challenge is part of Zain’s corporate social responsibility efforts targeting education and represents just an extension of Zain’s corporate commitment to “A Wonderful World” for their customers. It is Africa’s first ever televised academic competition involving universities in which Zain operates.
This year’s Africa Challenge marks season three and has been extended to include three more countries from last season’s five. The three countries joining Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia are Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The extension has also seen more Zambian universities taking part. While season two saw two universities (CBU & UNZA) represent Zambia, four universities (and possibly five) are expected to fly the Zambian flag higher thereby increasing the chances of bringing the grant home.
While it is a trend for most organizations to donate to needy institutions, Zain Africa Challenge is contributing to the development of universities through creative means that not only ensure infrastructure improvement through grants but also enable the students get exposure and interact with their counterparts from other universities in Africa.
All participating universities and students walk away with grants. The grants are based on each university’s final standing in the knock-out tournament. This season’s top prize at the finals in Uganda is $50, 000 educational grant while the participants for the winning university (students & coach) each win $5000 worth of educational grants.
The questions in this fast-paced quiz programme cover a wide range of topic areas including: history, science, African culture, geography, literature, music and current events. Additionally, Zain Africa Challenge highlights the excellent educational opportunities at African universities with videos and student profiles.
The tournament will be broadcast on national television in all the eight countries taking part in the tournament.
ok good accademic motivation
l-)
Musonda mwaiche wandi wali graja kale finshi ulechita in this competition give chance to students.**==:-ss
Congrats Numbala l-)
I feel very happy,very excited, very thrilled, very homely on the revelation of 8 engagements of zambian universities . This is indeed a great,a great and so very great exceptionally great development. We need more universities . bo prof mutiye
Goodmorning Fellow Zambians!! I will not comment on this one yet coz kutiwachelwa kunchito!!
So I will comment later.
Mwashibukeni Bloggers :)>-
I want to sleep now but have appointment in central london at 10am . i will make it . i feel great about 8 universities bo prof musebelize
There are 8 universities in Zambia??? Sha lande sana.
Good morning bloggers! I hope you have a lovely morning.
Thank God of Zain. Keep it up! You are doing a great job.
How I wish MTN and CelZ were also actively involved in uplifting educational standards in different ways.
can some assist me understand the “grant” they keep mentioning. is it a debt or should it be repaid, or is it cash or what
#8 I meant Thank God for Zain!!!
Well its interesting to know that we have 8 universities (actually 9 if u include the new one in Kabwe). However, the quality of teaching in these unis is highly questionable apart from UNZA maybe. I am aware that most lecturers at some of these unis only hold a first degree. How can bachelor’s degree holder teach in a uni? Worst still many are ill-equiped – no library, no labs, no computers, no recreational facilities, etc.
Gov’t should scrutinise the quality and not just boast about numbers of the unis.
am sure the guys from CBU will do us proud this time around…
#12
Equally UNZA! Last year they perfomed badly
Actually we have 10 unis there is one in Kalulushi, a Catholic Univesity.
BABY C…
Good morning,hey i was waiting for the update yesterday.what happened.have a sweet fruitful day.
Yaba!! 😕
morning all bloggers,
may this day bring you joy and blessings.have a good day.
Don’t forget mulungushi university.
ba moze..
nichani,mukamba ati yaba kuseniseni,nanga nichani ba bro.
dont get irritant too fast its still morning you know,
take care and have fun.
Ba Moze i hope all is well…
#18 and Lusaka University.
Sister
And Baby C’s Univesity in katete
Baby C, were you at UNZA? If so when did you graduate?
This maestro’s topic!
Since when did Zambia have so many Unis? The only ones I know are UNZA & CBU…I seem to be out of touch with reality, or are some of these universities run by private individuals in their homes? In Africa everything is possible.
You even have wizards calling themselves Doctors of Black Magic.
How come these universities in Zambia don’t appear on the international handbook of universities, only CBU(ZIT) and UNZA are there.
zain it the big sponser.sponserd touching lives,upcoming muzicians,build our nation and zain africa challenge.what a wonderful world.
#8 may God bless your wish.
Baby C is it possible for me to enrol my maid at your university?
All things are possible in Zambia. You can be a university without a website, proper infrastructure and qualified faculty etc. Mine is copper university. I like copper.
:(( nalila ine, eight universities since when?????????? do you mean 2 universities and six colleges??? surely mwebantu!!!!!!!! do any of these bush institutions have any accreditation, someone please answer me…
#31 – Ba Zedi, please check comment #7, i was also asking the same thing mudala 8???
Firstly, I would like to humbly thank Zain for this rare social responsibility that it is undertaking. Please, continue doing this good job as we need your assistance that will probably help our universities build more infrastructure at their premises.
Second, I am impressed that “the eight government accredited eligible universities from across the country namely: AIBT (Lusaka), CBU (Kitwe), Cavendish (Lusaka), Copperstone (Kitwe), Northrise (Ndola), UNZA (Lusaka), Zambia Adventist (Monze) and Zambia Open (Lusaka)” are real.
===
LT 2008 Award Winner. =; for Zambia in 2011.
33. continued.
Thirdly, the Minister of Education’s ““Some of you will be flying out of Zambia for the first time and this will no doubt add to your exposure…You will learn more about other universities. But as you go through all this, my government’s appeal is that you sell your universities to students from other countries and also take time to sell Zambia as a tourist destination as you are our ambassadors.”” is a bit disappointing.
Instead of him concentrating on talking about useful things only, he is busy speaking about some Zambians flying out of the country for the first time. This in a way is mocking intelligent minds. Also, what is there to sell about our Universities. In fact…
34 continued.
… most of those educational institutions that have been listed are colleges.
UNZA and CBU are marred with rampant closures due to the 17 year old MMD GRZ government’s interference to normal running. Some of the remaining are just jokes that operate in rented buildings around Lusaka Centre.
On the tourism issue, hearts off to you Mr Minister, but then I wish someone will have enough money to come and tour our great Nation as most of our fellow Africans are broke like us.
On the list:
1.AIBT (Lusaka) is a block linked to an Australian University
2.CBU (Kitwe)
3.Cavendish (Lusaka) is a block linked to either an Australian or UK university
4.Copperstone (Kitwe) I am unaware of this one
5. Northrise (Ndola) is a block also somewhere in Town if I remember correctly
6.UNZA (Lusaka) ni Zii!
7.Zambia Adventist (Monze) is well developed with its own infrastructure
8.Zambia Open (Lusaka) operates on correspondence basis where people learn for like 2 weeks together, have exams, and then do the rest from home.
36 continued.
There are ZCAS, Evelyn Hone, NIPA and Livingstone University of Technology in various places which are truely operated as colleges in looking at the staff qualifications and infrastructure that they have. However, these qualify far much more to be called Universities than those alleged universities AIBT (Lusaka), Cavendish (Lusaka), Copperstone (Kitwe) and Northrise (Ndola) that only seem to be symphoning money from our Zambian parents.
The Mulungushi University (public somehow run in a private manner) is the one that deserves to be on that list that Zain was provided with no doubt as it has the required lecturer qualifications and infrastructure in Kabwe rural.
37 continued.
However, I would like to congratulate those that have won, namely: CBU, UNZA, Northrise and AIBT (in no particular order). Please, keep representing Zambia and continue working hard.
To the ones that could not continue, this is a time to reflect on how you can improve and do better next time. Failure is just a way to re-double your efforts in trying to achieve your goals. All the best in your endeavours.
===
LT 2008 Award Winner. =; for Zambia in 2011.
8 universities in zed? Really i don’t know
VEN i THE YATOLLA PONTIFF GENERAL is not aware of the other six varsities. Iam only aware of CBU and UNZA and the Catholic one in Monze. Mulungushi is still being formed – maybe later. ZAIN, Tell me, how many have graduated from your other ‘varsities’? Are those the ‘varsities that offer six month degrees and PhDs? Are they for the so called ‘investors’ doing bussiness even in the education sector? Which Government official has accredited them and for what nonsense? ATASE.
This is indeed a milestone. But LT, is this a sports story? Whatever the case, Zain ni zii. This is what we call proper investment. You bloggers, have you now seen that without Zain you wouldnt have known about the other universities? Muletasha?
Go Zain! Go Zed Unis bring back the prize.
I didnt know that there are four universities in Zambia. When I left in 2002, there were only two namely UNZA and CBU.
There is also open university….the list is endless. Whatever the case the world knows only CBU & UNZA
8 universities? thats missusing the word university.:-w
There is only one true University in Zambia and thats UNZA.
Even UNZA is nothing on the world stage, it doesn’t even feature in top 3000 universities in the world.
Ayas, it don’t get worse than….yaa!
this country Zambia is joke, the word university is protected by law please, who is dishing out licenses for these institutions to be called uni’s kansi!
first grant polytechnic status then when they meet the prescribed conditions within a certain time frame give them the university charter,
na corruption muuma university license monga ni ma plot sure!!
Here’s the only info of one of the uni’s online, they’ve no site to market themselves at all one wonders on serious they’r
Friday, 15 Feb 2008
MULUNGUSHI University is off to a good start and its vision is to be a centre of academic excellence and a leading institution of higher learning in Africa, Professor Vernon Chinene has said.
—MULUNGUSHI University is off to a good start and its vision is to be a centre of academic excellence and a leading institution of higher learning in Africa, Professor Vernon Chinene has said.
Prof. Chinene who is the Vice Chancellor of the institution said this in Kabwe today when he addressed students of the newly opened university
The mission of Mulungushi University is to provide high quality education and generate knowledge and technological innovations relevant to national and regional development goals,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor said that Mulungushi University would make every effort to provide quality education which would empower students to be competitive in any given field of specialisation.
He urged the students to rise up to the challenge and get as much out of their lectures as possible and exhibit high performance standards in their academic endeavours.
“In April 2008, we expect to admit the first students to undertake diploma programmes of the university. This will be followed
This will be followed in September by the admission of first undergraduate students of the university” Prof Chinene said.
He added that the advertisement of undergraduate programmes was expected to be launched in June, 2008 or earlier, depending on the preparatory arrangements which were currently going on.
The Vice Chancellor said other planned academic programmes would be developed during the course of the development of the university and that the certificate courses would be beefed up in their syllabus and courses extended from six months to one year.
“With regard to the future of certificate courses, let me take the opportunity to reaffirm that Mulungushi Universi
With regard to the future of certificate courses, let me take the opportunity to reaffirm that Mulungushi University plans to continue offering them by virtue of it being a multi-level curriculum university,” he said.
Prof Chinene told the students that 30 per cent of the places in the academic programmes would be reserved for women while the remaining 70 per cent would be competed for equally between male and female applicants.
He said Mulungushi University had been established on the understanding that it would be a 100 per cent fee paying university which would be expected to be self sustaining financially.
And in a vote of thanks, IMIS Diploma student, Sylvester H
:((:((:o Oooooweee mayoooo. 8 universities pa Zedi. Please educate me.
I watched the last challenge (when it was Celtel)…
Zambia tried, but it was sad…
Hope they do better this time….How did we get to 8 universities?
surely dont condemn other univesities wen the government recognises them. Mind ur language..GOD loves u very much. may you continue to be under his protection. thanks
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