Geingob’s recognition: A positive window into the future

WHEN former President Hifikepunye Pohamba scooped the Mo Ibrahim prize for African leadership earlier this year, it may have been a critical and significant psychological lift to the governance of the country at a time when it looked to its third president but more importantly this could have been an incarnation of what Namibian leadership has developed into.
Leadership which is primed at fully dedicating tenure of office to surmount the development challenges of Namibia, improving the livelihoods and welfare of people and consolidating the foundation for sustainable development, has already been the cornerstone of President Hage Geingob’s leadership philosophy and indeed international and regional recognition and appreciation has already started showing its teeth barely less than a year into his presidential tenure.
Apart from being conferred the Order of Welwitschia Mirabilis by his predecessor, Pohamba, upon his inauguration as Namibia’s third democratically elected President on 21 March 2015, this month will mark more significant recognition milestones for Geingob.
As he embarks on an 18 day international tour which will firstly take him to Cuba on an official visit and finally the United States, Geingob is to be conferred with the African Political Leader of the Year Award and an Honorary Doctorate Degree during the trip.
The Doctorate of Humane Letters will be awarded by the Fordham University in New York City, on September 22, while the 7th African Leadership Summit will confer Geingob with the African Political Leader of the Year Award, on the 18th of September in Washington DC.
Apart from this, at the Africa- America Institute (AAI) Future Leaders Legacy Fund Awards Gala Dinner that will be held on September 29, Geingob will receive the AAI 2015 Lifetime Achievements and Distinguished Alumnus Award in New York which will recognise Geingob’s lifetime achievements in working towards strengthening the education system and his leadership in pursuing independence and later socio-economic progress in Namibia.
Further set to deliver his maiden address to the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 29th, Geingob who is already a holder of a Ph.D. from the University of Leeds and numerous honorary accolades such as the LL.D. Honoris Causa by Columbia College, Illinois, Doctorate of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa) by The American University of Rome and also the Order of the Sun, 1st Class by the Government of Namibia for providing outstanding political leadership, President Geingob continues to provide political hope not only for Namibia but the rest of the continent. With very little doubt, appreciation is a fundamental human need and one hopes that Geingob will respond to appreciation expressed through recognition of his work because it confirms that work in political and socio-economic leadership is valued. Having carried a resounding first 100 days in office and other encouraging timely interventions on the general political landscape, it is essential to note that Geingob’s success is far from being certain and as these positive pieces of appreciation come in, they certainly provide a clear indication that future outlook of his tenure of office is solidly bright.