Lüderitz
The financial difficulties of two students studying at the Namibian Institute of Mining Technology (NIMT) and Cape Peninsula University of Technology in South Africa respectively are over, thanks to Seaflower.
Seaflower Group of Companies recently awarded two bursaries to the two male students studying at NIMT in Tsumeb and at Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
Alfons Fransman, who is going to study marine mechanical engineering at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, got a bursary for N$186 000, while Mesias Shihome, who is studying at NIMT in Tsumeb to become a fitter and turner got N$34 000.
Seaflower acting CEO Mike Nghipunya handed over the bursaries and a rugby sponsorship worth a combined N$420 000 in the presence of Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Bernard Esau last week.
Nghipunya handed over the N$200 000 sponsorship to local rugby team Seaflower Ocean Swallows Rugby Club and said the Seaflower Group believes in giving back to the community through their participation in and initiation of community outreach programmes.
As a group of companies utilising a strategic national resource, it is their obligation to ensure that the Lüderitz community and Namibia as a whole benefits from their corporate social contributions. He added that Seaflower Group created a Corporate Social Responsibility Fund to meet its social responsibility commitments with an annual budget of around N$1 million.
With the aim of feeding the needy through fish donations and soup kitchens, they hope to also promote community art development and education and capacity building through the awarding of study bursaries, as well as to advance community development and empowerment projects.
Nghipunya further said they saw it fit to invest in skills and knowledge development by awarding bursaries to students in fields relevant to the company’s needs. Last year Seaflower provided four full bursaries to the value of 150 000 to students undertaking courses in fitting and turning, diesel mechanics, marine sciences, air-conditioning and refrigeration.
At the same occasion Nghipunya briefed the fisheries minister about developments at the company since he was appointed as acting CEO of Seaflower Group in May 2014.
Esau praised Nghipunya for a job well done and for bringing growth to Seaflower. He also commended the company’s social responsibility programme, especially the granting of bursaries to students. When you educate one person you educate an entire nation, Esau said, and wished the students all the best in their studies.