True innovation begins where knowledge meets curiosity: First Lady

First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has stated that true innovation begins where knowledge meets curiosity, and is meaningful only when it serves people.

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

The First Lady stressed that while tools like artificial intelligence unlock unprecedented possibilities, innovation cannot be an end in itself. The measure of technology, she said, is not whether it can be built but who it benefits, becoming truly transformative when curiosity turns it toward education, healthcare, and livelihoods across the atolls.

She emphasised that for such innovation to thrive, it must be inclusive. Appealing to women and girls to claim their place in science and technology, she affirmed that innovation has no gender, and that their place in shaping the future requires no permission.

Describing young people as the architects of tomorrow, she said education must nurture creativity and critical thinking. She encouraged students to become creators rather than passive consumers of technology, urging institutions to reward curiosity and build the confidence to experiment and to learn from failure.

The First Lady also pressed researchers to take their work beyond academic halls to real-world challenges, noting that research is best judged by the lives it improves. She called for closer collaboration between academia, policymakers, and industry, so that new ideas reach the communities they serve.

In closing, she voiced confidence that the conference would foster lasting partnerships and inspire homegrown innovation across the country.

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

Organised 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, the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of MNU, foreign dignitaries, academics, researchers, and students.