Nedbank Namibia has invested N$760 000 to fund the studies of 23 beneficiaries.
This once again demonstrates sustained demand for the initiative and reaffirms the bank’s long-term commitment to education.
The 2026 beneficiaries represent diverse academic fields, including commerce, business administration, data science, finance management, law, information technology, management, economics, human resources, procurement, informatics and microbiology.
This growth reflects how the trust has matured from a promising pilot initiative to a strategic human capital investment with increasing momentum year after year.
The trust was launched in 2025 to generate sustainable funding through the management of shares and investments, providing financial assistance for any accredited programme within the Southern African Development Community region. At its inception, the trust supported 23 beneficiaries, comprising 16 employees and seven dependents, as reported at the launch event in March 2025.
This initiative aligns with Nedbank’s broader drive to address Namibia’s low tertiary education enrolment relative to global rates and to empower employees through career-advancing qualifications.
One year later, the trust has expanded both in funding and impact.
Nedbank Namibia executive for human capital Bianca Muller said the Trust has, in just one year, demonstrated both its necessity and its potential.
“The growing demand and quality of applications encouraged us to scale our commitment this year, increasing our allocation to ensure more of our employees and their dependents have access to quality tertiary education,” she said.
Muller added that this year’s increased investment reinforces our commitment to Growth and People Transformation.
The Trust is not an act of charity but a strategic investment in our people, our culture and our future.
NNH Education Trust Trustee chairperson Elizabeth Mannasse noted that the bank’s deepened investment in 2026 signifies a shift from establishing a new initiative to embedding a longterm institutional mechanism for skills development.
“We really are looking to not only solve Nedbank’s problems, but really Namibia at large. I think that’s also reflected in our finance minister’s national budget speech in terms of what she says in terms of the theme being ‘People, Productivity and Prudence’,” she said.