Matheus David
Delta Secondary School will represent Namibia at the regional finals of the ExxonMobil Foundation STEM Africa Project to be held on 29 September 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa.
According to a media release by the ExxonMobil Foundation, in partnership with JA Africa and Mindsinaction STEAM Centre, approximately 3 000 students from Namibia, Nigeria, Angola, and Mozambique participated in the project.
In Namibia, 22 high schools from the Khomas region took part in the zonal quizzes, from which Delta Secondary School emerged victors.
Ndalikutala Nghilalulwa, a Grade 10 pupil at Delta and one of the four pupils who will represent Namibia in Cape Town, credited their success to teamwork and discipline. “We divided the topics among ourselves based on our strengths and tested one another with mock quizzes. What helped us the most was our ability to support each other during stressful moments,” she said.
Looking ahead, Nghilalulwa said their preparation will now focus on strengthening their weaknesses and building confidence. “As we prepare for Cape Town, our focus is on building on existing skills. We plan to strengthen our weak areas and boost our confidence so that we can compete at an even higher level,” she explained.
Reflecting on the national contest, she highlighted their personal growth. “We learnt how to think quickly under pressure and the importance of understanding our content. We also discovered the value of staying calm and communicating effectively as a team. Winning at the national level also boosted our confidence. It proved that hard work and dedication really pay off and showed that we are capable of standing as equals on the international stage.”
She added that consistency and teamwork remain their top priorities as they train with their coach. Nghilalulwa further emphasised the importance of structure and mentorship in their preparations. “At the national competition, we realised the need for more depth and structure. This led us to adjust our study methods by organising more frequent team sessions and including team-building activities. We have also strengthened our mentorship support by seeking more guidance from our coaches and learning from past competitors,” she noted.
Despite the responsibility of representing Namibia, the other three team members said the pressure serves as motivation. “Representing Namibia comes with great pressure, but we use that pressure as motivation. We manage it by sticking to a study routine, supporting each other, and focusing on our preparations instead of fear. This keeps us calm and focused, with the ultimate goal of winning the competition always in sight,” they affirmed.
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