By Eliaser Ndeyanale
FOUNDING President Sam Nujoma last week Friday marked the International University of Management’s special graduation ceremony of with a message chronicling the University’s achievements.
The university conferred two honorary doctorate degrees to two businessmen Banda Shilimela of Shilimela Security Services and Erastus Shapumba. An honorary degree of Masters of Business Administration was conferred to Twapewa Kadhikwa owner of Xwama Cultural Village and Traditional restaurant. Nujoma said when he was invited to the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the IUM in 2010, the administration block was the only new building at the Dorado Park Campus, but noted that the situation had gradually improved since then. He said new blocks such as lecture halls, administrative block and the female students’ hostel demonstrate the success and achievement of IUM which has six campuses spreading from Windhoek to Walvis Bay and Swakopmund in the Erongo region to Nkurenkuru in the Kavango West region, and Ongwediva in Oshana region respectively. He acknowledged his close association and contribution to the establishment of IUM which he officially inaugurated in 2002. “As a milestone of the higher education system of Namibia, today IUM is following the international practice in the awarding of honorary doctorates. “Even before 2002, when the founder of IUM, Dr. (David) Namwandi wanted to initiate and establish a higher education institution in the mid-1990s, I had the opportunity to be associated with him on how to establish, grow, and expand such a higher learning institution.” Nujoma said Namwandi proved to the Namibia and the rest of the world that he was a visionary who did not just had a day dream, but turned dreams into reality. “As a result, we now see IUM in our midst scaling the higher education landscape in Namibia with certainty and drive. “In this regard, in awarding honorary doctoral degrees, IUM, in its humble way, is joining a long and a well-established tradition that goes back to the Middle Ages. ”It is thus my conviction that IUM possesses appropriate facilities and human resources to deliver effective and efficient higher education programmes in the country, the SADC region and the entire African continent as well as the rest of the world.
“I must also state here for the record that the establishment of Nkurenkuru campus in the Kavango West Region is a welcome development. I believe the move is history in the making because with limited resources, IUM became the first higher education institution to establish itself in that region.”
He said that IUM would provide the expected service delivery not only to the Kavango West and East regions but also to other regions and neighbouring countries. “Bravo IUM for your patriotism and courage to venture into an untapped market,” said Nujoma.