LET’S ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION TO FUEL TANZANIA’S DRIVE TOWARDS INDUSTRIALISATION

Last week saw the opening of an exhibition at Mbeya University of Science and Technology. The exhibition brought together numerous students and staff from colleges and institutions across the Mbeya region, to discuss the opportunities that arise from innovation.

Speaking at the exhibition, Dr John, the Acting President of the Faculty of Science and Technical Education at Mbeya University, called on Tanzania’s Commission for Science and Technology to develop special funds to help identify and support universities and their students with research and development.

Dr John highlighted that creating these funds will help encourage business creativity, which will benefit the nation in its pursuit of becoming an industrial economy. We are all well aware that becoming an industrialised economy is high on the President’s agenda.

It is therefore worth reflecting on Dr John’s comments and thinking about how we can help encourage creativity and innovation more broadly across the country, to fuel the drive towards industrialisation.

Tanzania does not need to look too far for stellar examples of creative and innovative industries. These characteristics are already deeply embedded in many of our sectors.

Take the telecoms sector – an industry that has grown far beyond its origins of phone calls and text messages.

Nowadays, we don’t just stay in contact with our loved ones with our phones. We bank and source loans, we surf the internet, we access health insurance – all with the help of our mobile operators. Many sectors could look to the telecoms sector for creative inspiration. A strong business environment is the bedrock for encouraging the innovation and creativity that has brought about the mobile services we now use on a daily basis

Luckily, developing a strong and sustainable business climate is at the centre of the Government’s five-year development plan.

These developments and future initiatives can only be sustained if they operate in a supportive and friendly context.

It is absolutely crucial that we continue to enhance Tanzania’s business environment to ensure that industries such as the telecoms sector continue to take an effective private sector leadership role, encouraging creativity and innovation across the board.

Magreth Ngusa
Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology
23.03.2020