Bright Malenga: Tell me your brief biography.
Bashir Kamwendo: I was born on 5th October, 1993 in Nkhotakota in the family of eight children and I am fourth among my siblings.
Bright Malenga: How was your academic journey?
Bashir Kamwendo. I started my academic journey at Linga Full Primary School from standard one to standard four. Then I continued my primary school education from standard five to eight Nkhotakota Islamic Primary School. Then in 2009 I was selected to Mzuzu Government Secondary School I wrote my Junior School Certificate Exams in 2010 and in 2012 I sat for Malawi School Certificate Examination and scooped 14 points.
In 2014 I was selected to study Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Bunda Campus. I graduated in 2018 with credit.
Bright Malenga: What did you venture into after leaving the campus?
Bashir Kamwendo: In 2019,I cofounded a business partnership with my colleagues called mBios.
Currently through this business we grow mushroom and sell them as raw. We also provide consultancy in mushroom production. In few months to come we will start producing mushroom spawn (seeds in layman’s language) and sell them to mushroom farmers.
Bright Malenga: What are your future plans?
Bashir Kamwendo: My future plans are to continue with business and venture into other sector especially for those that provide solutions through biological science. I will also continue with academic and pursue masters in biotechnology related field and become a researcher and help to solve problems that Malawi face and can be solved only through biotechnology.
Bright Malenga: Some youths aspire to follow in your footsteps. What can you tell them?
Bashir Kamwendo: They need to work hard and be passionate about science. They should spend more time studying science related subjects like maths, biology, chemistry and physics.
They should also be business minded and innovative.
