The Chief Executive, Institute of Bankers in South Africa, Mr Phil Mnisi
 The Chief Executive, Bankers Association of Malawi,        Mr Fanuel Kumdana
 The Manager, Education and Training, Ms Trudy Paul
 Distinguished Guests
 Family Members and Graduates
 Ladies and Gentlemen

It is my pleasure and privilege tonight to preside over the graduation ceremony and present awards to those that have successfully completed various courses offered by the Institute of Bankers in South Africa. I am particularly honoured to be among you today as this is the first time the graduation ceremony of the Institute of Bankers in South Africa is taking place in Malawi. You may wish to know that for over fifty years such graduation ceremonies have been taking place in South Africa. Let me thank Mr Phil Mnisi for choosing Malawi as the venue for this year’s graduation function. My hope is that for the next fifty years, the Institute of Bankers in South Africa graduation ceremonies will be held in Malawi.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I know that the road to success is always an uphill battle. It takes dedication, effort, hardwork and selflessness to complete studies successfully. I am aware that some of you were working full time as well as studying. It required a lot of discipline to achieve such goals. You had to forgo a lot and sometimes important social functions for this cause. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, today, it is a pleasure to witness and associate with men and women who have endured the pressure associated with homework, hardwork and examinations, in pursuit of knowledge and advanced techniques in the banking industry. 

Education should be taken seriously in all fields and at all levels as this is an important way a region can address poverty and provide a firm foundation for sustainable economic development. A population that is well educated is able to participate and contribute in various ways to economic development.

You are graduating at a time when the financial sector in Malawi is becoming increasingly more complex as we adopt and implement several reforms. In recent times, competition in the banking industry has increased as more banks have entered the financial sector. New financial instruments have been introduced to improve the delivery of banking services. Rules and regulations have changed to take into account global transformation, e.g. Money laundering laws are in force together with the associated know your customer regulations.  The world is gradually moving toward Basle II and that will be a major challenge for Malawi.  We need ever improving skills to succeed.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, to face the challenges in the financial sector requires advanced knowledge, skills and techniques. It is through courses such as those offered by the Institute of Bankers in South Africa that one can learn new techniques of dealing with the new challenges facing the banking industry. I would therefore encourage everyone in the banking industry to emulate the good example set by those graduating today.

Malawi has benefited from courses offered by the Institute of Bankers in South Africa for a long time.  I am proud to hear that last year, the top student in the Institute of Bankers (SA) was a Malawian, and a lady for that matter. As a country, we are proud to be associated with the Institute because we know that it is a centre of excellence which is dedicated to the professional development of its members through the enhancement of skills and competencies for a globally competitive financial services sector.

Graduates should appreciate that expectations out there are high as employers will look to you for solutions to the challenges facing the industry. I would like to urge you to bring to your institutions the high standards of the techniques and skills acquired through this programme. May I therefore congratulate each one of you for the achievement and credit that you bring to the banking industry.  We are truly proud of you.  Congratulations.

May God Bless You.