By Anna Nakambale
Ululations and tears of joy thundered and watered the walls of Safari Hotel on Friday last week when more than 1500 graduates received their degrees from the Founding President and Chancellor of the University of Namibia, UNAM, Dr Sam Nujoma.It was a momentous occasion that saw families from all corners of the country, who had come to witness the graduation of their loved ones, sitting together in one hall. Parents came dressed in different traditional outfits, all joined together by the achievements of their sons and daughters.
Dr Nujoma wasted no time in pointing out the importance of education, saying that universities all over the world were think tanks that generated and disseminated knowledge which could be used to accelerate and enhance economic development.
He emphasized the importance of indigenous foods and fruits which could improve Namibia’s economic competiveness and the people’s nutrition once they were properly harnessed.
“Can you imagine how much money and how many jobs would be generated if someone comes up with a way to make fruit juice from the ‘eembe fruits’, the bulk of which just goes to waste due to lack of technology?
“We have a lot of traditional or local knowledge which still remained locked up in the minds of a few people. For that reason, that science or knowledge remains underdeveloped and undocumented.
“Unless our tertiary education institutions take bold steps in knowledge management, knowledge harvesting and sharing, all that knowledge will die when the few that have a monopoly pass on.”
He urged UNAM to develop a curriculum in traditional medicines and train traditional herbalists, adding that UNAM should assist government and spearhead the development of a national policy on indigenous knowledge system.
President Hifikepunye Pohamba emphasized the importance of education, saying that his government remained committed to providing education to all those who wished to study.
He said that students enrolment continued to improve from year to year and this was by no small measure attributable to Dr Nujoma’s initiative and example of lifelong learning.
Dr Nujoma was a student of geology at UNAM, shortly after he stepped down as President of Namibia. He got his masters degree in geology after four years of hectic studies and researches.
Turning to the graduands, President Pohamba said that they were reaping the fruits of their hard work and should be proud of their achievements. He said that they should face the world with confidence and put to good use the skills and competencies they had acquired.
“The education you have acquired has given you a competitive edge and high possibility to excel in your professional careers,” he said. “In order to succeed, however, you must continue to work hard, if not harder, than you did in your academic careers at the university.
“Some of you will find jobs immediately while others might not be as fortunate. Others will continue to study. In everything that you will do, be good ambassadors of UNAM and remember those who stood by you and provided valuable support while you were studying.
“Education is the most powerful tool which you can use to change the world. Use it for that purpose. Use it to help develop Namibia and to improve the living conditions of the communities in which you will live and work. This is what the nation expects from you.”
UNAM is one of the best 25 universities in Africa, receiving students from many countries such as China, Germany, Denmark, Jamaica, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Zimbabwe and many other countries.
“It is clear that UNAM is not only a national university but also a world university, providing education to the citizenry of all continents, thus contributing positively to the human understanding in the global village,” said Professor Lazarus Hangula, Vice Chancellor of UNAM.
