A young Namibian entrepreneur, Ndahafa Hapulile, was recently propelled to the forefront of African success stories when she was awarded a Royal African medal, and inducted into the Yoruba Royal Court in Nigeria.
The award was bestowed on her as part of an initiative of the Royal African Young Leadership Forum (RAYLF), one of the world’s leading organic and sustainable mechanisms harnessing, shaping and recognising the ambitions, energies and success stories of millions of youths across the globe.
“I was selected as one of the 100 outstanding young leaders in Africa, particularly for my work in the global economic political sphere. Economic diplomacy has always been something I am passionate about. Hence, I have facilitated numerous national, regional and continental consultations on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), an instrument I believe, that if well-harnessed, is critical to Africa’s economic emancipation,” she told New Era.
“It is for this reason that I decided to study law, particularly international commercial law, so that I can play a meaningful role in its implementation. This comes at an opportune time as I just graduated… from the University of Salford in Manchester, UK. So, I intend to put both the qualification and award to good use,” she added.
Her message to aspiring Namibian and African entrepreneurs is simple: “Be a person of value and character. Everyone and everything is value-driven, including money. In whatever you do, add value and be valuable. You will see how kings will look for you, and banks will run to you to borrow money from them, or to upgrade you. That is a fact, and my life is a testimony”.
Describing herself as an economic diplomacy advocate, Hapulile specifically focuses on mining, information communication technology and hospitality.
She plays a crucial role in the strategic direction of a locally-registered business, Samra Investment and Consultancy.
She is the owner of Dalarize Guesthouse, as well as the founder of ‘I Am the Key Children Media’, a non-profit organisation aimed at empowering and educating children.
A previous accolade Hapulile received was a 2016 Mandela Washington Fellowship.
She said: “I was awarded the Royal African medal, and inducted into the Royal Court, and I will forever be grateful to the King of the Yoruba people for the access and market that he has given me through this award.
“I will not regard this award as trivial, as I intend to expand my business by leveraging on the social capital of Ooni of Ife, and of the entire Royal African Young Leadership Forum as a collective to deliver tangible financial capital by fostering sustainable trade relations on the continent. I thus intend to position Samra Investment and Consultancy as the gateway to southern Africa, and strategically penetrate the West, East, North and Central Africa. Once economic unity is achieved, political unity is enviable”.
Hapulile added that the award serves as a powerful platform for advocacy, allowing her to promote key issues and strategies related to economic diplomacy on a broader scale.
“It further validates my credentials and impact on a continental level.
Thus, I extend my sincere appreciation to His Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi CFR Ojaja II for this great honour,” she said.