Four hundred chemical engineers wanted: CBU and UCF sign lab deal ahead of a $1.5 billion fertiliser expansion

The Copperbelt University and United Capital Fertilisers, a subsidiary of the Wonderful Group of Companies, have signed a memorandum of understanding to build a state-of-the-art chemical laboratory — the centrepiece of a wider pact covering training, internships and scholarships in chemical engineering.

The MoU, signed in Kitwe on Tuesday, will also support construction of a lecture theatre and student accommodation, according to CBU Vice Chancellor Professor Imasiku Nyambe, who called the agreement "a crucial step in bridging the gap between universities and industry".

The demand side of the deal is concrete. Wonderful Group chief executive Roy Mwamba said the group's urea fertiliser plant needs about 400 chemical engineers — and disclosed that a groundbreaking ceremony for a $1.5 billion expansion of the ammonia-urea plant is weeks away. "With this expansion, there is a need for greater integration, and Copperbelt University will collaborate closely with the group of companies to achieve this vision," he said.

Government lent its weight to the signing. Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet for Finance and Economic Development, Siakazongo Siakalenge, said the pact aligns with the Grow Zambia Agenda: "Investing in human capital today lays the groundwork for a stronger, more resilient economy tomorrow." Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Kelvin Mambwe, said the MoU gives students valuable exposure to practical work.

For CBU, the agreement converts an industrial expansion on its doorstep into curriculum, kit and beds. For UCF, it is a pipeline: train the engineers the plant will need, then hire them. The test, as ever with MoUs, will be the groundbreaking that follows.

Sources: Lusaka Times, "CBU, UCF Sign MoU To Build Chemistry Laboratory" (23 Sep 2026); ZANIS News (23 Sep 2026).