New Era, 24 May 2013 - by Helvy Shaanika
ONGWEDIVA – The University of Namibia (Unam) Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology capped its 30 pioneer engineering students yesterday during a ceremony that took place at the Ongwediva Trade Fair venue.
The first ever group of engineers to be produced in Namibia consists of 20 males and 10 females. They received bachelor degrees (honours) in engineering in the fields of civil, computer, electronics, mechanical, metallurgical, and mining.
The president further advised the graduants to behave in a professional manner and not to tarnish the university's reputation through unprofessional conduct. Pohamba, who is also the Chancellor of Unam, heaped praise on the founding chancellor and Namibia's founding president Dr Sam Nujoma for the significant role that he played in the establishment of the engineering faculty. "Nujoma worked hard and ensured that the engineering faculty was established and before he left office, he told me to make sure that the engineering faculty was brought about," said Pohamba. Pohamba also urged Namibians to adopt a culture of hard work, which should include using their own hands to build the country and produce food. "When I returned from exile, I noticed that Namibians loved rice more than mahangu, they even want to eat salads at funerals. But the last time we went to Kalimbeza Rice Project, people were wearing suits and ties, they don't want to get their hands dirty. Even engineers don't put on suits, they put on overalls to build a bridge where you are going to drive with your beautiful car," said Pohamba.
In his speech Unam Vice-Chancellor Professor Lazarus Hangula said this year's graduation was very special since Namibia, through Unam, was releasing its first batch of locally trained engineers into the world. Hangula said the university is poised to position itself to provide top-notch training facilities and to produce relevant skills for spurring economic development, not only for Namibians but for neighbouring countries as well, including Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A Burundian, six Zambians and three Zimbabweans graduated from the Unam Faculty of Engineering, according to Hangula. Furthermore, the vice-chancellor thanked the graduates for choosing Unam as their alma mater and urged them to be good ambassadors. "Be and remain good ambassadors of Unam. Don't follow examples of high ranking officials and doctoral graduates who use every opportunity to discredit Unam when people question the management of public health. Unam does not manage public health in Namibia.”
The engineering graduates were among a group of other graduates from three other Unam campuses in the north, including the Hifikepunye Pohamba, Oshakati and Ogongo campuses. In total 498 students graduated from all four campuses in the fields of teaching, nursing, accounting, banking and agriculture. Three female students – Eva-Angelina Velikoshi Iindongo, Mermine Iita and Sabina David – received degrees in nursing science.