Lusaka, Zambia (27th October 2025) The Acting Vice Chancellor of Levy Mwanawasa Medical University (LMMU), Professor Sekelani Banda, has announced that the University is working towards making dental training one of its flagship programmes.
Speaking when he received a delegation from Dental Capacity, a Non-Governmental Organisation that focuses on building capacity and promoting dental education in Africa, Professor Banda said the visit was both significant and timely as the University is finalizing its 2026 to 2030 Strategic Plan.
He explained that one of the University’s key priorities in the new plan is to strengthen and expand its capacity in dental education, with the goal of achieving full readiness by the end of the strategic period.
“The LMMU Dental Training School holds great historical significance, and that is why it must remain the anchor of all dental training programmes in the country,” said Professor Banda.
He added that modernization of the institution is essential to ensure it meets current educational standards and remains competitive both nationally and regionally. Integrating the dental school more closely with the University’s academic and research programmes, he said, will help raise its profile as the leading centre for dental training in Zambia.
Professor Banda also acknowledged the continued support of the Government of the Republic of Zambia through the Ministry of Education.
“We have tremendous goodwill from the Government, and we are enthusiastic and optimistic about our role in preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dental Capacity Founder and Board President, Dr. David Ugai, reaffirmed his organization’s commitment to working with LMMU in advancing dental education in Zambia.
He said the purpose of their visit was to gain a deeper understanding of the current landscape of dental education in the country, particularly in areas such as human resource development, infrastructure, and training, in order to identify gaps and explore practical ways to address them.
“Our focus is on building lasting capacity and helping bridge the existing gaps in dental education so that institutions like LMMU can continue to produce highly skilled dental professionals for Africa,” said Dr. Ugai.
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Public Relations Office
Levy Mwanawasa Medical University