Africa-Press – Namibia. Dalene Kooper
University of Namibia (Unam) Vice Chancellor Kenneth Matengu on Thursday highlighted diversity and inclusivity among this year’s southern campus graduates at Keetmanshoop.
The Unam Southern campus held its first graduation ceremony of the year, where a total of 178 graduates from four faculties of the university graduated from the southern campus.
“The Southern campus made great strides with regards to diversity and inclusivity this year,” Matengu said.
He added that the campus graduated five international students, four from Zimbabwe and one from Eswatini. He also noted the three graduates from the marginalised communities, which include a San, an Ovatjimba and an Ovahimba graduate.
“This means distance is not a barrier; the southern campus caters to everyone,” the vice-chancellor said. He added that female students continue to dominate the graduation stage, making up 70.3% of the graduates. “We need to address the boy child falling behind,” he said.
Addressing the ceremony, Unam Chancellor and former president, Nangolo Mbumba, reminded graduates it is the genesis of their journey.
“You have made it; you have achieved your dream, but don’t forget that this is just the beginning of your journey. You must see yourselves as catalysts who will help propel the developmental agenda of your region, country, continent and the world. As you prepare for that proud moment, you must remain cognisant that the knowledge and practical skills you have obtained at Unam are not just keys to a better life for you and your family, but they are keys to a brighter, healthier and more prosperous future for the wider society,” Mbumba said.
He highlighted the importance of the southern campus in training skilled professionals for Namibia’s oil, gas and geoscience sectors.
“The Southern campus has been earmarked to offer geosciences to cater for the oil and gas sector. Therefore, it is expected that Southern campus finds its relevance and meaning in ensuring that our country achieves its national development agenda, NDP 6 and Vision 2030, by producing a high-skilled workforce to meet the demands of the emerging industries,” the former president said.
Moreover, Matengu added that the Unam Senate has decided to add a school of nuclear science due to Namibia being the third largest producer of uranium in the world and a school of manufacturing.”
Four-time graduate and lecturer at the school of medicine at the Southern campus, Johannes Katjikuru said at this fourth graduation ceremony, a postgraduate diploma in health service management, serves as encouragement for young men to pursue higher academic pursuits.
“I’m here to encourage all the Nama boys, as you have seen through the statistics, who are very few when it comes to the boy child. A Nama boy should look into my eyes, and a reflection of him should appear in my eyes,” Katjikuru said.
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