ONGWEDIVA – The former governor of the Ohangwena region said people should stop accusing him of buying school names through donations to schools.
Usko Nghaamwa stated that people are not happy whenever he assists schools because they think he is doing it for schools to be named after him.
He stressed that he will never stop assisting schools, although many people do not like it.
“I give donations to schools because I understand the importance of education. I am doing this to meet the government halfway,” Nghaamwa stressed.
He added it is important that every Namibian child has access to education.
“It makes me feel good when schools have resources, such as a conducive classroom, tables, chairs and hostels.
“Therefore, this is the main reason I am always committed to supporting education in Namibia. People should understand this before judging me,” he said.
Nghaamwa said this on Wednesday in response to the ministry of education’s approval for the renaming of the Omungwelume Secondary School (SS) to Usko Nghaamwa SS.
This follows a request by the school leadership to rename the school to honour the former regional governor, whose assistance to the school’s development was unsurpassed.
The school principal of Omungwelume, George Nanghanda, said they are busy with the preparations for the upcoming official event of the school, which is scheduled to take place soon.
Nghaamwa explained that he is not the one who decides on the renaming, but these decisions are made by the school management.
He does not have a problem accepting the renaming of the school; however, he said the naming of schools should be done fairly because he does not condone corruption.
“I don’t like corruption; I like fairness,” he noted.
Furthermore, Nghaamwa stressed he last year refused the renaming of the Eenhana NUST campus into his name because there were allegations that his N$100 000 donation to the Eenhana Satellite campus was to motivate the naming of the campus into his name.
“To donate something, it has to come from my heart – and it is a gift from God; Therefore, I will not give up, no matter how many times people are spreading rumours against my name,” he added.
He also mentioned that people who are not happy with him giving donations to schools should also do the same to be given an honour like him.
“I am ready and happy to receive this honour. I feel proud of it.”