First Lady: True innovation is meaningful only when it serves people

First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has stated that genuine innovation emerges where knowledge intersects with curiosity and becomes meaningful only when it serves the needs of people.

She made the remarks today as the guest of honour at the inauguration of the Theveli International Conference 2026, held at the Maldives National University (MNU).

The First Lady emphasized that while technologies such as artificial intelligence are creating unprecedented opportunities, innovation should not be pursued as an end in itself. She said the true measure of technology lies not in whether it can be developed, but in who benefits from it, adding that it becomes genuinely transformative when curiosity is directed toward improving education, healthcare, and livelihoods across the atolls.

She stressed that innovation must be inclusive to reach its full potential. Calling on women and girls to pursue opportunities in science and technology, she emphasized that innovation has no gender and that women and girls should not need permission to play a role in shaping the future.

Describing young people as the architects of tomorrow, she said education should foster creativity and critical thinking. She encouraged students to become creators rather than passive users of technology, while urging educational institutions to nurture curiosity and instill the confidence to experiment, take risks, and learn from failure.

The First Lady also called on researchers to extend their work beyond academic institutions and address challenges in the real world, noting that the true value of research should be measured by the lives it improves. She emphasized the importance of stronger collaboration among academia, policymakers, and industry to ensure that innovative ideas reach the communities they are intended to serve.

Concluding her remarks, she expressed confidence that the conference would facilitate lasting partnerships and encourage the development of homegrown innovation across the Maldives.

The First Lady also presented the Theveli 2026 awards to the recipients during the event.

Organized by MNU under the theme "Transformative Innovation in the 21st Century: Science, Technology, and Society," the inauguration of the 9th Theveli International Conference was attended by cabinet ministers, MNU Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, foreign dignitaries, academics, researchers, and students.