The University of Zambia (UNZA), in partnership with INFRATEL Corporation Limited, has officially launched the UNZA-INFRATEL Innovation Hub, known as the iHub.
In his keynote address read on his behalf by the Assistant Director, Communication and Digital Technologies Mr Bwanga Leslie Mbula, Ministry of Technology and Science Permanent Secretary Eng. Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu, declared the iHub as a critical milestone in the nation's development. "This event marks yet another milestone in our country's journey toward building a resilient, inclusive, and technology-driven economy," he stated, emphasising the government's commitment as articulated in Vision 2030 and the 8th National Development Plan.
Dr. Habeenzu highlighted that the hub was a direct response to the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy, which prioritises research-industry collaboration. "This partnership epitomises what we mean by 'collaboration for national transformation'," he said, adding that the government has established funding mechanisms like the Hakainde Hichilema Innovation Fund (HHIF) to support young innovators.
Speaking at the same event, UNZA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mundia Muya, framed the iHub as a transformative chapter for the university and the nation. "The iHub is more than a facility; it is a strategic instrument for national transformation," Prof. Muya stated. He outlined its core mission to bridge the gap between academia and industry, offering incubation, acceleration, and seed funding to nurture a new generation of digital entrepreneurs who will "move beyond job-seeking to job creation."
The strategic importance of the partnership was underscored by INFRATEL's leadership. The company's Board Chairperson, Mr. Stein Liyanda, called the iHub a "national statement" signalling a deliberate move "from importing solutions to designing and exporting our own." He assured young innovators that INFRATEL would provide mentorship, infrastructure, and pathways to scale their ideas.
Echoing this commitment, INFRATEL's Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Evans Silavwe, positioned the iHub as the company's research and development arm. "We are moving from access to application, from infrastructure to intelligence," Dr. Silavwe said. He revealed that the hub would focus on cutting-edge fields like Artificial Intelligence (AI), data analytics, robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT), all tailored to the Zambian context.
The iHub is designed to be a national platform where students, researchers, and start-ups can co-create practical solutions to challenges in sectors such as agriculture, health, financial inclusion, and education. It represents a concerted effort to harness the potential of Zambia's youth, with over 60% of the population under the age of 25.
The launch of the UNZA-INFRATEL iHub is widely seen as the beginning of a new chapter in Zambia's innovation voyage, creating a structured ecosystem to transform local ideas into viable enterprises that drive economic diversification and job creation.