WINDHOEK – In an unprecedented move, the Founding President and Father of the Namibian Nation Dr Sam Nujoma called on the University of Namibia (Unam) to erect a statue of Nahas Angula in honour of his immense contribution to the country’s education system.
For 15 years Angula was involved in an independent Namibia’s education system, having served as the first minister of education, sport and culture since 1990, and then as minister of higher education from 1995 until 2005 when he became the prime minister.
Among his first duties was to transform the country’s education system from Bantu education and he had the duty to open up education to all so that Namibia would have a well-skilled equitable labour force.
“A statue of Nahas must be erected in front of Unam in his honour for his contribution to Namibian education. He has been transformational in the Bantu education system,” said Nujoma when addressing a Swapo Party election campaign rally in Okahandja over the weekend.
Nujoma’s call received thunderous applause from the cheerful crowd when he personally called Angula to the fore.
Nujoma was Unam’s first chancellor after independence until when Pohamba took over the position in 2011.
In support of the founding father’s call, Job Shipululo Amupanda who is the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) spokesperson and secretary for information and mobilization yesterday welcomed the move, saying Unam must act with urgency.
“The University of Namibia must comply with the founding president’s call. And they must realise the wishes of the founding chancellor and leader of the Namibian revolution,” Amupanda told New Era yesterday in an interview.
Angula was at the helm of reforming Namibian education to implement an education system that would be inclusive and on par with international standards like the current Cambridge system as a measure of quality assurance.
Education has been Nahas’s contribution before, during and after independence as he was also a teacher in exile during the liberation struggle.
During the rally held at Nau-Aib stadium in Okahandja, which was attended by hundreds of Swapo supporters, Nujoma also called on the Namibian youth to desist from social evils such as gender-based violence, and alcohol and drug abuse.
“Alcohol and drug abuse among youth should stop. The youth end up stabbing their partners and killing them because of alcohol abuse. This must come to an end. When we talk about Samuel Maharero and other heroes – these people never drank alcohol. As of today no youth in Namibia should be found under the influence of alcohol. A nation without culture is like a nation without roots,” he cautioned.
He added that a nation that is prepared never drinks alcohol, as people especially the youth should always be prepared to defend their motherland.
Nujoma urged Namibians to vote for the Swapo presidential candidate Dr Hage Geingob and ensure he emerges victorious as the country’s next president in order to continue implementing developmental plans for economic independence and prosperity for all.
“Comrade Hage Geingob is a tested Swapo Party cadre who was entrusted to head the United Nations Institute for Namibia (UNIN) in Lusaka where thousands of Namibian youth were trained in various fields of study in order to run the country after independence. Vote Comrade Dr Hage Geingob in order to consolidate the gains our country has achieved during the last 24 years. Vote for a tried and tested party with a sound track record. Vote for peace, stability and above all, vote for continuity,” he said.