* It aims to equip marketing, ICT and professionals from other disciplines with practical AI skills to drive innovation and efficiency in Malawi’s evolving business landscape
* Marks the first initiative under IMM’s and ICTAM’ strategic partnership, which is designed to strengthen digital and data-driven capabilities
* Across IMM’s and ICTAM’s membership bases and all professionals wanting to update digital skills
By Duncan Mlanjira
The country’s top technology experts, Dr. Wisely Phiri and Jones Kumchenga are set to facilitate a landmark high-impact Artificial Intelligence (AI) training workshop for marketers and information & communication technology (ICT) professionals to be held tomorrow at Sunbird Mount Soche in Blantyre.
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This has been organised by Institute of Marketing in Malawi (IMM), in collaboration with the ICT Association of Malawi (ICTAM) in a major push for digital transformation and professional capacity building — under the theme; ‘Leveraging on Technology: Using AI in Our Business Processes’.
A statement from IMM’s communications & public relations Director, Daniel Ngwira, indicates that the one-day training aims to equip marketing, ICT and professionals from other disciplines with practical AI skills to drive innovation and efficiency in Malawi’s evolving business landscape.
“This event marks the first initiative under IMM’s and ICTAM’ strategic partnership, which is designed to strengthen digital and data-driven capabilities across their membership bases and all professionals wanting to update digital skills.
“The partnership reflects a shared commitment to developing globally competitive professionals and advancing Malawi’s digital economy in line with MW2063 national vision.”
Daniel Ngwira
The training facilitators will be led by two prominent figures in Malawi’s tech and innovation space — Dr. Wisely Phiri, founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of one of Malawi’s most successful IT institutions, Sparc Systems, who is hailed as the ‘Father of Technology in Malawi’.
“With over two decades of experience delivering enterprise technology solutions across more than 10 African countries, Dr. Phiri currently serves as president of the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) and of the MUBAS Alumni Association.
“His leadership has shaped digital transformation efforts in sectors including banking, telecommunications, and public service,” says the statement.
On Jones Kumchenga, who will co-facilitate the training, he is a certified AI developer and software development & innovations lead at NICO Technologies — “known for his dynamic speaking style and hands-on expertise”.
Kumchenga also serves as vice-president-membership at Blantyre Toastmasters and is an active member of ICTAM.
“Participants will gain insights into the application of AI, automation and machine learning in marketing, organisational operations, customer engagement and data analytics, with specific relevance to the business environment in Malawi,” says Ngwira in the statement.
He added that “the training comes at a crucial time when organisations in both the public and private sectors are exploring technology to improve service delivery, competitiveness, and agility”.
“AI is no longer a futuristic concept — it’s a present-day tool transforming how we work and make decisions,” he said.
On his part, ICTAM’s vice-president, Moses Dossi says “it is high time professionals across various disciplines, including marketing and ICT, begin leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance business management”.
“This collaboration between IMM and ICTAM ensures that professionals in marketing and business management are not just catching up, but leading in applying AI solutions to address local challenges.”
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Beyond IMM and ICTAM members, Ngwira says the training is open to all professionals, SMEs, students, and members of the public and interested participants can register by contacting the IMM Secretariat via email at imm@imm.mw or calling +265 (0) 991 008 388.
Ngwira says the AI training is the first of many collaborative initiatives planned by IMM and ICTAM in 2025 as the two institutions are positioning their partnership as a catalyst for long-term professional development and innovation in Malawi.
In January 24, IMM and ICTAM signed a landmark memorandum of understanding (MoU) to empower members of both institutions and the general public by addressing critical topics in marketing and ICT.
The three-year partnership sets to collaborate on training, workshops and skills development programmes in order to leverage each organisation’s strengths “to deliver high-quality and impactful programs that foster professional growth and innovation”.
Partnership throwback; ICTAM VP Moses Dossi and IMM president George Damson
At a press briefing both organisations emphasised that the partnership aligns with the nation’s development blueprint, MW2063 — under enabler number 5; Human Capital Development, which calls for investment in science, technology & development and education skills development as key enablers for development.
Both IMM and ICTAM believe that this collaboration will enhance this development pillar by developing local capacities and exceptional talent that can compete at a global level for Malawi’s benefit.
At the MoU signing ceremony, IMM president, George Damson said: “We believe this partnership will create valuable opportunities for our members to exchange and acquire crucial information technology and marketing skills.
“In the age we live in, technology and marketing are interwoven and collaboration is the only way to achieve great success. Highly trained marketing professionals will be pivotal in supporting both government and private sector efforts to achieve digitisation and advance the national development agenda.”
He thus encouraged all practising and student marketers “to register their official affiliation with IMM to take full advantage of the benefits offered through the IMM-ICTAM partnership over the next three years”.
The IMM is a locally recognised and registered marketing body whose agenda is to promote, enhance and regulate the marketing profession in the country with the aim of developing marketers into positions of influence; Institute of Marketing in Malawi – Your Way Up.
On his part, Dossi attested that the MoU will serve as a blueprint for the two institutions’ shared vision; to provide impactful training, workshops, and skills development programs tailored to meet the dynamic needs of their members as well as the general public.
He added that the partnership “is built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to professional growth and capacity building” — with one simple goal; “to empower individuals with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities they need to thrive in an ever-evolving world of technology and marketing”.
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“Together, we are creating a platform that bridges the gap between these two critical sectors, enabling synergy that will drive economic growth, digital transformation, and professional excellence in Malawi.
Dossi emphasised then that the two institutions will jointly select trainers and design training content to guarantee relevance, quality, and value for all participants with both institutions utilising their networks to maximise engagement and attendance.
He assured that the partnership should reach every corner of Malawi, from urban professionals to rural innovators in order to create a ripple effect that extends far beyond our two organisations.
Dossi also alluded that they need to establish such partnerships with other organisations, whose focus is to align themselves with the MW2063 vision, saying every aspect of the vision towards an ‘Inclusively Wealthy, Self-reliant, Industrialised, Upper-Middle Income Economy by the year 2063’ encompasses use of ICT.
