His Excellency, Dr. Hage G. Geingob

Graduation Speech

By

His Excellency, Dr. Hage G. Geingob

President of the Republic of Namibia

at the

April Graduation Ceremony

of the

Namibia University of Science and Technology

at

Safari Hotel, Windhoek

on

20 March 2017

Master of Ceremonies and Vice-Chancellor of the Namibia University of Science and Technology, Dr Tjama Tjivikua

Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly and Chancellor of Namibia University of Science and Technology, Professor Peter Katjavivi

Chairperson of the Council of the Namibia University of Science and Technology, Advocate Esi Schimming-Chase

Honourable Ministers and Deputies

Honourable Members of Parliament and Government Officials

Your Excellencies Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Visiting Dignitaries

Members of the Council of NUST

Revered Academics and Staff of NUST

Honoured Graduates

Students of NUST

Members of the Media

Ladies and Gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to join you today for the 22nd graduation ceremony of this Institution, formerly the Polytechnic of Namibia and now the Namibia University of Science and Technology.

Graduation is an occasion to celebrate milestones as it is the culmination of years of dedicaton, hard work and sacrifices – for the University, faculty, staff and students, as well as all those who dedicated their support to Institution. I therefore congratulate NUST and all the graduates for staying the course, working diligently and reaching this educational milestone.

I am especially pleased to be celebrating this wonderful occasion at a time of great moments of transformation in our country. Indeed, it pleases me to note that NUST fully embraces its responsibility in society and has focussed on critical areas for national development. Indeed, your theme for this year, Reimagining University Engagement in the Knowledge Economy, is apt and speaks to the essence of the university in a modern age: renewal. It is, therefore, no surprise that NUST has been once again awarded, by Public Management Review (PMR) Africa, two top prizes for 2016: as the best higher education institution and most innovative instutiton or company in Namibia. Congratulations to NUST for being an innovator and for always bringing pnew erspectives to Namibias’s development in this way.

In a short period of 22 years, NUST has grown to become a prominent university in the region with a focus on the provision of science and technology education. The new programmes in science and technology, the increasing enrolments in science and technology, the focus on research in science and technology do indeed indicate your dedication to your mission. Namibia needs the cultivation and facilitation of science and technology in order to develop its infrastructure and economy. And surely through these efforts, this University is addressing national needs, thereby serving its puprpose for existence.

And so to the graduates, I am confident to say that your educational, training and learning experience at NUST has been a time for discovery and self development. We believe you have developed your intellect to analyze complex ideas and think ahead, innovate and lead people and institutions in a multi-cultural environment. The world of tomorrow is about thinking ahead, creativity, technology, entrepreneurship and innovation. These are important facts that should be easily recognizable as benchmarks of educated persons.

There is an imposing responsibility on every public official, office bearer and citizen to address our state of being: the way we live and behave, the way we educate, the way we care for the sick and the weak, and the way we plan for the future.

developing nation requires our human development index and capacity to be at a much higher levels. In other words, we need educated Namibians to drive development and to maintain our development at higher levels all the time.

All sectors of our economy need educated persons to be appreciatively improved in order to raise the standard of living for our people and to compete effectively in the global market. Highly skilled and qualified workers, and the imparting of technical and skills should be the foundation for a successful human development strategy for Namibia. In the modern era, comparative advantages come more from technical innovations and the competitive use of knowledge and less from abundant mineral resources.

Our objective of transforming Namibia into a knowledge-basednation requires the best brains, a strong commitment and hard work to deal with the many problems we still have to overcome; it requires young Namibians like you to be resolute and forward-looking in your imagination, and to be pioneers. With your qualifications from a fine university, I am confident we can create a better future for our country if we apply our minds positively and appropriately.

But I am under no illusion that our efforts to create a prosperous future for our country will run without any hindrance along the way. There are common and unique challenges that we must managed properly, efficiently and effectively. For example, economic expansion and growth and unemployment need a new understanding and solutions. Therefore, we must find innovative solutions to our problems and challenges, in order create sustainable development.

On another front, global warming and extended draughts areredefiningour economic paradigms. Therefore, balancing sound economic policies with environmental protection will continue to pose special challenges as we move forward. Scientific evidence paints a gloomy picture for the planet unless drastic measures are put in place to reverse the negative effect of global warming, and frequent and longer drought spells. The consequences of such scenarios can be devastating, given that the majority of our citizens derive their livelihood directly from an arid land.

These challenges demand effective, visionary and resolute leadership. You, the graduates have received a modern, superb education – an education that provides a foundation on which you can build your lives and the economy. All of you must become leaders and opinion makers - at home, at work, nationally and internationally. But remember that as in all the previous centuries, the 21st century challenges require a different type of leadership because the challenges and opportunities are different.

The 21st century requires leaders who can clearly understand the changing international environment and who can quickly learn new ways of solving problems, who are willing to embrace diversity and take global perspectives in problem solving, using technology, entrepreneurship and innovation as effective tools.

In all this the development strategies of American, European and East-Asian economies demonstrate the importance of higher education in promoting growth. Their success stories have been the result of investments in education, especially higher education, technology and production methods, which were adapted and improved upon by well-educated people. A rapid growth of labour intensive manufacturing was made possible with highly trained individuals to put in place the structures to achieve greater productivity. Because competitiveness is at the top of their development agendas.

Today’s graduation ceremony is a manifestation of the significant role that our institutions of higher learning can play in shaping future leaders. We often spend lots of time discussing how the institutions of higher learning should be adapted to meet the needs of a more globalized world. What we rarely discuss is how the ability of these institutions to adapt to new demands and opportunities is fundamentally affected by policies outside their control.

The global information society in which we live requires strong societal participation and international partnership. It is, therefore, incumbent on Namibia to increase investment and leverage international cooperation and support for strengthening our science and technology human capital and knowledge base. Transforming the challenges we face in the pursuit of our objectives into opportunities for growth and development is a challenge to our human ingenuity.

Graduates, it is for this reason that you – trained professionals – must be highly efficient and productive citizens of this world. Society has invested in you and you must re-invest your knowledge and energy in society. You are at crossroads in your lives: many things await your engagement: opportunities, responsibilities, liabilities and risks. You are the workforce of today and tomorrow. And as proud graduates of the NUST, you hold the key to our country’s development and productivity. In every way, your country’s prosperity depends on your collective and personal contribution. Of course, you have to work hard, take calculated risks, and be accountable.

A month ago we celebrated our country’s 27th independence anniversary. Since we gained independence, it has been our Government’s mission to fulfill the vision of equality, justice and peace for all. The facilities and tools that are being developed today are cutting the barriers of race and gender, of income and age. Those left out of the economy previously are seeing new opportunities. Small businesses are competing in national market once reserved only for powerful corporations. In many ways, our hopes are being realised through education. Education is becoming more relevant now because there are many changes in the world mostly driven by education and the related tools such as technology.

There are many approcahes to the challenges we face. And many soultions are being crafted in the academic environment, with NUST taking a leading role. I remain impressed with the growth of this young university and commend the NUST Council and the Vice-Chancellor for having a clear and directed vision for the University.

Finally, to the Graduates of the Class of 2017, I, too, offer my hearty congratulations. I offer my gratitude for your commitment to success, for challenges conquered, for projects completed, for goals reached or even surpassed. You, your parents and your friends are very proud today, and very hopeful, because many more possibilities are now open to you.

You are at the peak of your physical and creative energies and so the world will rightly demand hard work and reward you for the honest work you do. Twenty-first century Namibia belongs to you -- take good care of it. Embrace enduring values for this revolutionary time.

Congratulations and best wishes to NUST and to you all – our leaders of tomorrow. Thank you and farewell!

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Presidential Graduation Speech _ NUST 2017