Rose-Mary Haufiku

University of Namibia vice chancellor Kenneth Matengu has encouraged first-year and senior students to face challenges with conviction. 

He said this during the official opening ceremony of the university for the 2022 academic year at the Hage Geingob campus last week. 

He told students that no star can shine without the presence of darkness and that when dark times arise in their lives, they should seize the opportunity to shine.

“Whatever challenges lie ahead, what I can advise you is that you should choose to face them, and face them with conviction and commitment,” urged Matengu. 

He went on to say that as students, they will leave Unam as whole and transformed individuals because that is what they are expected to achieve as students.

“And that is my prayer to all of you – that you will meet your greatest challenge here at Unam and leave this place transformed, ready to take on challenges that life will throw at you,” he added. 

Unam alumnus Ndjodi Ndeunyema also discussed how students from a variety of backgrounds are likely to be dominated by feelings of excitement, fear and anxiety on their commencement day, but that the objective is to ensure that such feelings are refined and positively addressed. “I challenge you to do so as you endeavour to self-improve. To be a student who goes beyond, to display intellectual humility while manifesting intellectual rigour, and to recognise that you may come from a ‘small’ place, but that place matters and that you too can have an impact,” advised Ndeunyema.

The university, which has about 30 000 students and 2 500 employees, has designated 2022 as its special year since it will be 30 years old, having been established on 31 August 1992. 

Under the theme ‘The Engaged University - UNAM at@30,’ the university plans to commemorate the prestigious occasion with targeted activities throughout the year.