Windhoek
President Hage Geingob has received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from his alma mater, the Fordham University in New York.
“For his lifelong efforts to bring freedom, justice and prosperity to the Republic of Namibia, we, the president and trustee of Fordham University in solemn convocation assembled, and in accord with the chartered authority bestowed on us by regents of the university of the state of New York, declare Geingob Doctor of Humane Letters,” reads the citation.
Geingob is in New York to attend the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which takes place on Friday.
Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Eva Badowska, said the school has recognised that Geingob has been striving for justice in Namibia for more than 50 years, starting while the country was ruled by the South African regime.
“Today as President of Namibia he has shown exemplary leadership in the country’s fight to end poverty and ensure sound governance and economic progress,” said Badowska.
Geingob narrated that before he arrived at Fordham University he had first enrolled at Manhattan College “but to my disappointment when I got there, I was bombarded with lectures on Greek history.”
“I thought to myself that this is not why I came all the way here for. My intention was to be armed with the requisite education, so that I can return home and fight to open the golden door to freedom. I then realised that I was at the wrong college and needed to go to a bigger university with a more diverse range of faculties and subjects. This is how I moved to this great institution, Fordham University,” Geingob reminisced.
The President was also taken to Keating Terrace, now known as the Terrace of the Presidents, where his name has been engraved on the concrete steps among those of other legendary presidents honoured by the university, such as former US presidents John F. Kennedy and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Senegal’ first president Léopold Senghor, and former president of the Philippines Corazon Aquino.
Badowska noted how Geingob spent decades in public service, bringing modern management techniques to government as prime minister and bringing new support to small and medium-sized companies as minister of trade and industry.
A visibly moved Geingob said: “I am normally a strong man, I don’t get touched easily. But this moment is something unusual. I am moved, I did not expect this.”
He went on to say the honour he received is not his alone, but is dedicated to all Namibians who sacrificed their lives during the liberation struggle that brought about democracy in Namibia.
Geingob explained that Namibia is a truly democratic country, adding that first president Sam Nujoma brought about peace and former president Hifikepunye Pohamba brought stability, while he is now tasked with bringing about prosperity.
“People enjoy democracy and a good constitution, but we don’t eat those things. People want to eat food, people want decent shelter and employment,” he said.
The Head of State said that during last year’s presidential elections he obtained 87 percent of the votes through democratic elections.
“I got worried and frightened. It is not because I am popular that I got 87 percent… This is a heavy responsibility placed on my shoulders, bringing about prosperity to our people,” he said.
– Additional reporting by Nampa