By John Ekongo
WINDHOEK
Businessman and Namibian Business Hall of Fame laureate, Sidney Martin, has encouraged young people involved in business to have a passion for what they do if they intend to reach the apex of the business world.
“If you have passion for what you do, then you should work hard to make that passion a success.”
Martin made the remarks when he addressed various media institutions during the launch of nominations for the Junior Achievement Namibia (JAN), Namibian Business Hall of Fame in the capital recently.
He commended JAN, the Namibian Chamber of Commerce (NCCI) and the various partners for bringing up the ingenious idea of inducting Namibian personalities in a Business Hall of Fame, saying that the youth look up to these business personalities for inspiration.
This sentiment was echoed by the first ever Business Hall of Fame laureate, Harold Pupkewitz, who said: “Election to the Namibia Business Hall of Fame is a singular honour bestowed by Junior Achievement Namibia on business leaders who through their behaviour and actions, exemplify all the characters of a good entrepreneur.
“The honour of election to the Business Hall of Fame establishes the laureate as a role model for young Namibians to emulate and consequently nominations should not be undertaken lightly,” stressed Pupkewitz.
Against this background, JAN is calling for new nominations from the public for business personalities to be inducted in the Hall of Fame this year.
According to JAN, nominees should have business excellence and be a competent business person, be a courageous thinker, must have vision and innovation, must possess an inspiring leadership, be committed to free enterprise, have ethical behaviour, display ingenuity to the broader public and have a sense of community spirit.
Laureates will be selected from two categories – historical and active/retired category.
The historical category recognises business personalities who have died and have left behind a lasting legacy.
The active or retired category is for individuals that are still involved in day-to-day activities of their businesses or those who have retired from an active business environment, but their impact is still being felt.
Pupkewitz added: “Nominations to the Business Hall of Fame must reflect all of the above in establishing role models for young Namibians to emulate.”
Pupkewitz warns, “Unless we are able to establish, stimulate and grow a vibrant private sector led by entrepreneurs committed to the above criteria, the promises of Vision 2030 will not be realised”.
Nominations close on March 20.The crowning will take place mid-April.
JAN is a non-profit economic-education organisation, responsible for the provision of skills in entrepreneurship and management to learners to enable them to become self-sufficient. Its programme reaches an average of 17??????’??