Tujoromajo Kasuto
THE Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) today unveiled its first satellite campus at Eenhana in the Ohangwena Region.
The new campus will offer various disciplines ranging from agriculture, business management, computing and informatics, horticulture, logistics and supply chain management, science,technology, engineering and mathematics to Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET).
These programmes will be offered from certificates to PhD programmes.
NUST Chancellor Peter H. Katjavivi, commended the Vice-Chancellor, Erold Naomab, stating that there have been significant events, accomplishments and undertakings at NUST since January 2021 when he took over office.
He said this is significant because prior to him assuming office in January 2021, NUST had been without a substantive Vice-Chancellor for some time.
“Key activities in this regard are that firstly the NUST management and the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) signed a Pledge of Leadership Excellence in 2021. I am reliably informed this Pledge will soon be renewed by the current SRC and the NUST Leadership,” he noted.
Secondly, towards the end of 2021 the NUST Council had an Annual General Meeting with Itah Kandjii-Murangi, the Minister of Higher Education, Training and Innovation at which all Council Members of NUST signed performance agreements with the minister.
This was a groundbreaking act in Namibia, for it was the first time that such strides towards enhancing the oversight and governance of a higher education institution in our country have been made.
Former President Hifikepunye Pohamba is the Campus Patron and was involved in the development of the campus.
Katjavivi confirmed that Pohamba and many others have pledged to make education more accessible, particularly to those from underprivileged communities, which is a significant milestone for the country.
“Comrade Pohamba, I have seen many people earmark their time and energy to initiatives that have not seen it through as promised. However, your unwavering support and enthusiasm throughout the planning, development and now, the launch of this NUST campus in this region, was instrumental in our collective mission to transform a dream into reality,” he praised the former President. Katjivivi stated that the previous president’s unwavering support and leadership has helped them get thus far in their mission.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila remarked at the ceremony that today is a celebration of a lengthy process of developing the University, adding that it also brings education closer to a large number of people who were previously unreachable by these services.
“It is indeed an achievement that all of us here must rejoice,” she asserted.
She maintained that the establishment of this campus bears testimony to NUST’s commitment to fill the human resources needs in all parts of Namibia to ensure that the country can fully harness its human resources to optimise national development.
“Having recognised the challenges that rural-urban migration places on urban development, especially in respect to Windhoek, the establishment of the satellite campuses can support the services expansion to rural areas and reduce costs of access to higher education for communities,” she emphasised.
