Rudolf Gaiseb
Namibia’s power utility’s managing director Kahenge Haulofu, expressed the company’s persistence in empowering students through annual bursaries, despite the financial limitations it faces.
During NamPower’s recent bursary handover, Haulofu said every year, more and more learners apply for financial assistance. However, due to financial constraints, “we cannot accommodate everyone; hence it is an immense opportunity and privilege to get a bursary that caters to all academic needs.”
The company awarded bursaries to 14 undergraduates and post-graduates who will be studying in Southern Africa. Out of the 1 014 applications in the 2024 application intake, only 14 were successful.
The bursary scheme has been in existence for more than 25 years, and has invested millions towards bursaries for students starting their first year of studies at tertiary institutions locally and in other countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. “Our mandate is to ensure a reliable supply of electricity to the nation, and part of fulfilling this mandate is the continued investment in skills development that can match the ever-changing and competitive technological advancement in the power supply industry. We believe that education and skills development are vital for growth, and with that in mind, we reconfirm our commitment to the annual bursary scheme for as long as the resources are available,” he said. The identified fields of study for this year range from Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Data Science and Transport Management to Logistics, Renewable Energy, Green Climate Financing, Accounting and Business Administration.
“The identification of study fields varies from year to year, based on the company’s needs, as well as ‘new study fields, which might become essential in future,” he indicated.
In addition to the bursary scheme, the company annually awards a similar number of vocational training bursaries to deserving young candidates, who are taken in as trainees at the NamPower Vocational Training Centre.
“On the other hand, as part of its corporate social investment, NamPower continues to make significant investments through the NamPower Foundation in various community projects aimed at socio-economic development and the betterment of society. Millions have been ploughed into social investment over the past decade, with a focus on education, community development, capacity and skills development, job-creation and entrepreneurship development. But still, out of all the above-mentioned categories, education receives the bulk of funding,” Haulofu highlighted.
NamPower Executive for Human Capital, Selma Ambunda, said the award is more than just financial support; it is a partnership.
“We are here to walk alongside you as you pursue your dreams and work toward a future filled with possibility. At NamPower, we firmly believe that education is the cornerstone of progress. By investing in you, we are not just empowering individuals, but strengthening the foundation of our nation’s growth and development,” she noted.
Haulofu hinted that the selection process was very meticulous. “The selection process was no easy one, as there were many who had similar capabilities as yourselves. However, besides looking at important determining factors such as academic performance, basic knowledge of the specific field of study, and financial need, we also had to take into consideration the educational circumstances of applicants living with disabilities, marginalised groups, and female candidates,” he said. He indicated, “In addition to the interviews, candidates were subjected to a psychometric assessment, which included the assessment for trainability, as well as determining training and academic potential, assessment of career insight, and relevance of study.”
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