UNAM Chancellor urges graduates to spearhead development

Creating a skilled workforce
Keetmanshoop campus hosts first graduation ceremony for the year.
Ndapandula Lilonga
  • 4 Days Ago

Graduates from the southern campus of the University of Namibia (UNAM) were urged to use their education as a tool for development during the institution’s first graduation ceremony of 2026, held last week.

The ceremony took place in Keetmanshoop, where Chancellor Nangolo Mbumba addressed 178 graduates, encouraging them to see themselves as agents of change in their communities and beyond. The graduates received qualifications across several faculties, including Agriculture, Engineering and Natural Sciences, Commerce, Management and Law, Education and Human Sciences, as well as Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine.

“Higher education carries a broader responsibility; the knowledge and skills you have gained at university must contribute to the development of our society. I encourage you to actively support national and global progress, ensuring that your achievements benefit not only yourselves but the wider community,” said Mbumba.

He also pointed to the growing importance of the southern campus in preparing students for emerging industries, particularly in the oil and gas sector. He said the campus plays a key role in helping Namibia meet its development goals under the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) and Vision 2030 by producing a highly skilled workforce.

The ceremony marked a milestone for the graduates, officially welcoming them into the UNAM alumni community after years of dedication.

Adding to the significance of the occasion, UNAM’s Vice-Chancellor Kenneth Matengu delivered a congratulatory message to the Class of 2026, encouraging graduates to embrace the next phase of their lives with purpose and confidence. The message described their qualifications as more than certificates, but as a testament to perseverance, sacrifice and determination.

Graduates were reminded that they are entering a dynamic and demanding world filled with opportunity, and that they are equipped not only with academic knowledge but also with resilience built through years of study.

Matengu emphasised that UNAM has a legacy of producing leaders, innovators and change-makers, and that the Class of 2026 now forms part of that tradition. “Take a moment to honour this achievement and then go. The future is not waiting; it is being built right now by graduates exactly like you.”

Also in attendance was Nillian Mulemi, chief executive of the Petrofund, who was there to support students funded by the company, particularly those in geoscience programmes.