RUNDU – University of Namibia graduates were urged not to show off with their qualifications and use their education to terrorise people but rather to serve the Namibian nation productively by being job creators.
Seventy-two students graduated at the Unam Rundu campus yesterday, receiving certificates, diplomas and degrees. The graduates received their qualifications in various fields of study such as Economics and Management, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Science, and Nursing and Public Health.
Addressing the graduates the Minister of Education Dr David Namwandi said he was thrilled with the outcome of what he described as a growing institution. He said he doesn’t want the students to bother his office looking for employment after graduating as they shouldn’t rely on merely job seeking but come up with ideas to employ themselves as they are now trained and capable.
“We want to be a nation of great thinkers and achievers, a nation that will utilise its available resources carefully and economically, we want to concentrate on our mental power and physical strength,” said Namwandi.
“The qualifications that you are receiving are demand-driven and thus you might get employment but employment might not always be there. We don’t want to create job seekers. Many young people run to my office and my deputy looking for employment, saying ‘I have graduated with a distinction and I’m not employed now I want employment’.”
He also urged graduates not to go out walking tall and terrorising people, showing off that they are educated but rather prove to be productive.
“You were never sent to study and come back to terrorise our people, we want to see what you can do with those qualifications, we want to see your contribution,” Namwandi implored the new graduates.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Marco Hausiku, told the graduates that their accomplishments would allow them to serve the Namibian nation satisfactorily.
“Education has always been a top priority amongst our national leaders and of course in my opinion it should have a special place in the hearts of all to pursue it and gain knowledge,” said the deputy prime minister.
The deputy prime minister also inaugurated the two new lecture halls which were recently built to meet the rising demand at the campus.
The graduation ceremony was also attended by the two Kavango regional governors – Dr Samuel Mbambo of Kavango East and Sirkka Ausiku of Kavango West – together with family and relatives of the students, as well as staff members of Unam.
By John Muyamba