GZU, Old Mutual launch National Research and Innovation Hub

GREAT Zimbabwe University (GZU) has joined hands with Old Mutual Zimbabwe Limited, to successfully launch the National Centre for Computational Intelligence and Actuarial Science (NCCIAS) at the GZU Law School.

Launched last Friday under the theme: “Strategic Partners: Resource Mobilisation for Infrastructural Development,” the initiative is aimed at enhancing the savings culture in Zimbabwe while driving economic transformation through research and innovation.

It is also expected to foster industrialisation and national development in line with Government’s Heritage-Based Education 5.0. The need to harness technology elements to steer development as well as promoting long-term savings among individuals are crucial towards achieving sustainable development.

Speaking on behalf of GZU Vice Chancellor, Professor Rungano Zvobgo, Acting Pro Vice Chancellor for industrialisation, business development and strategic partnership, Prof Bernard Chazovachii commended Old Mutual group for their support in establishing the innovation hub.

He said the national centre is expected to help manoeuvre financial problems and enhance utilisation of savings and insurance services.

“GZU is thankful to Old Mutual Zimbabwe Limited and its partners for making the establishment of the NCCIAS a reality. GZU on the other hand has a crop of competent personnel and students to host this national centre within the university, which will undertake cutting edge research into challenges facing the insurance industry and our country,” he said.

“This multi-disciplinary centre will spearhead academic scholarship, research and innovation meant to unlock value of financial resources and solve the in-country problem of poor savings, which have hindered national development.”

Prof Chazovachii urged stakeholders to collaborate in order to achieve the national goal.

“As GZU and Old Mutual Zimbabwe Limited, we invite other interested parties to join us and make this endeavour a multi-stakeholder effort meant to achieve economic transformation that will catapult our country to attain a knowledge-based economy and a middle income status by 2030,” he said.

Prof Chazovachii said the innovation hub is envisioned to become one of the leading institution across Sub Saharan Africa.

“We have a steadfast expectation that the NCCIAS will become the pre-eminent institution in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is through collective effort and dedication that we can transform this vision into a tangible reality,” he said.

Old Mutual Zimbabwe Limited group chief executive officer, Mr Samuel Matsekete, gave a public lecture on “Long term savings insurance and infrastructural development of Zimbabwe” in which he unpacked the challenge of poor savings in Zimbabwe.

He said the partnership between higher learning institutions and industry is significant in driving innovative ideas and scientific developments.

“It is a well-known fact the world over that achievement is without limit when Institutions of higher learning and industry collaborate as seen through the scientific breakthroughs, new projects and partnerships that led to development of economies and countries,” said Mr Matsekete.

“When institutions of higher learning collaborate with industry, society is served better, and lives are improved much better.”

Mr Matsekete pledged to work more with higher learning institutions to promote targeted researches and drive scientific breakthroughs

Meanwhile, the Old Mutual group officially handed over a cheque of $20 000 to GZU as seed money to set up the Universities National Centre of Excellence.