Celebrations and ululations were the order of the day at the Ongwediva Trade Fair Centre recently, as the University of Namibia held its Northern Graduation ceremony. The four northern based campuses, consisting of José Eduardo dos Santos Campus, Hifikepunye Pohamba Campus, Ogongo Campus and Oshakati Campus, culminated at the Centre to cap graduates mainly in agriculture, computer science, education, engineering, nursing, including distance students from various faculties and disciplines.

Officiating at his third graduation ceremony as new UNAM Chancellor, H.E Dr Nangolo Mbumba, elatedly reminded the graduates what they have gained from their alma mater. “During the years of study at UNAM, you have built lifelong friendships with fellow-students from different economic, cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds, while developing an appreciation for our unity in diversity as a cosmopolitan society.” The Chancellor left the graduates with a message of encouragement, that: “We are sending you to serve the Namibian people in all 14 regions of this country and beyond, including the rural areas. As such, with the knowledge we have imparted onto you, remember this: do what is right, start where you are, use what you have and do what you can.”

Abisai Haufiku came back to his alma mater for a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration, and chose to graduate with his family in the north. “Even though I attended classes in Windhoek last year, I chose to graduate in the north in the presence of my wife and my elderly mother.” He explained that, “it comes out cheaper” to graduate closer to home.

Speaking at the ceremony, UNAM Vice Chancellor, Professor Lazarus Hangula accentuated to the fresh alumni that: “UNAM and the Namibian Government want to see you making a difference in the lives of the people, institutions and countries where your skills will be needed.” He bid them farewell stating that “graduation is not the end of your education, but the beginning of an unending life-long learning curve to perfect your profession and excel. Always positively represent and be goodwill ambassadors of your alma mater.”

During the graduation ceremony, UNAM conferred various diplomas, bachelors, masters and PhD degrees on more than 610 graduands (including 36 engineers) from Angola, Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia. This academic year, the four UNAM Northern Campuses have a combined student population of 4 530, with lecturing staff from countries such as Cameroon, the DRC, Ethiopia, Germany, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Poland and Tanzania. On the day, five PhDs out of 26 graduating this year, chose to attend the northern ceremony, including a Doctor of Philosophy posthumous conferred to the late Selma Niitembu.

UNAM’s graduation season ends on 15 May in Keetmanshoop, with the Southern Campus celebrating its first graduation ceremony in southern Namibia. The Katima Mulilo and Rundu campuses celebrated their ceremonies on the 24th and 26th of April, respectively, while Windhoek ceremonies were hosted on 12 and 13 April.