First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has said true innovation begins where knowledge meets curiosity and becomes meaningful when it serves people.
She made the remarks as the guest of honor at the opening of the Theveli International Conference 2026 at the Maldives National University (MNU) on Tuesday.
First Lady Sajidha said tools such as artificial intelligence have opened up unprecedented possibilities, but innovation should not be an end in itself. Technology should be measured by who benefits from it, she said, adding that it becomes truly transformative when curiosity is directed towards improving education, healthcare and livelihoods across the atolls.
She stressed that innovation must also be inclusive. Calling on women and girls to take their place in science and technology, First Lady Sajidha said innovation has no gender and that women do not need permission to play a role in shaping the future.
Describing young people as the architects of tomorrow, she said education must foster creativity and critical thinking. She encouraged students to become creators rather than passive consumers of technology, and urged institutions to nurture curiosity, encourage experimentation and build confidence in learning from failure.
The First Lady also called on researchers to take their work beyond academic institutions and address real-world challenges, saying the value of research should ultimately be measured by the lives it improves.
She called for greater collaboration between academia, policymakers and industry to ensure new ideas reach the communities they are intended to serve.
First Lady Sajidha expressed confidence that the conference would foster lasting partnerships and encourage homegrown innovation across the Maldives.
She also presented the Theveli 2026 awards to the recipients.
The conference held under the theme “Transformative Innovation in the 21st Century: Science, Technology, and Society,” is the ninth Theveli International Conference was attended by cabinet ministers, MNU Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, foreign dignitaries, academics, researchers and students.
