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The beauty of humility

Mariselle Stofberg

Many companies aim to create an environment that makes employees feel trusted, safe and valued, to improve employee retention.

This is something that happens time and time again at Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) - a subsidiary of the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group.

Titus Thigenipo has been a part of the NBL team for 39 years and is still eager to learn. He remains hardworking and determined to deliver quality products to customers.

Thigenipo was born on 12 January 1955 at Okahao in the northern part of Namibia.

“I was just an ordinary child, herding cattle, going to school and completing the housework expected from a young man,” he said.

He started at NBL in 1980 and used to be part of the team responsible for the packaging and packing of items.

“Back then we did not have all the advanced equipment we have today, so everything had to be done by hand. I still remember packing the beer crates by hand. Luckily we were young and we had a lot of energy,” Thigenipo added.

Today he is an operator on line 1 at NBL, where he has the opportunity to work with advanced equipment and can expand his knowledge and skillsets with the latest technologies and machines.

“I love being able to work with machinery and see the products as they are finished. I feel excited and proud to be part of the production of such quality products.”

Thigenipo has had an amazing journey at the company and stayed loyal because of the way it allowed him to follow his passion and take care of his family. “I started working at NBL when I was still very young and I am, to this day, grateful that I was fortunate enough to be able to work at this company. The benefits and salary allowed me to take care of my family.

“With the salary I earned at NBL I was able to build my own house, buy myself a car, send my children to university and support my family. NBL has provided me with the means necessary to become financially independent and that is amazing.”

Teamwork, punctuality and assisting his colleagues are some of the cornerstones that Thigenipo uses in his professional life and have been an intricate part of his career thus far.

If Thigenipo had only one day left on earth, he would use that time to give thanks to those who helped and supported him throughout his memorable career journey. “I want to thank God Almighty for giving me these wonderful years at NBL. I want to keep my family close to my heart and most of all I wish I had the opportunity to shake the hand of Werner List, who founded O&L. Not only has he provided me with bread on my table for so many years, but he has created an environment where I can grow and make something of myself, and I am so grateful for that.”