Day: February 20, 2024

WINDHOEK: The death of former President Hage Geingob represents a great loss to Namibia's education and training sector, Higher Education, Training and Innovation Minister, Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi, has said. Geingob, who passed away in Windhoek on 04 February, appointed Kandjii-Murangi to the higher education portfolio in March 2015. The former University of Namibia dean of students said Geingob advocated for innovation and training in the higher education sector. At the onset, when he assumed the presidency in 2015, she said President Geingob told her of his vision of transforming tertiary education and the need to prepare Namibia for the fourth industrial revolution. 'He informed me that what he expects of me is to ensure that I take off where the previous ministers left off. He also indicated that we are in a different era and that we need to see a visible integration of technology and innovation in our higher education and training systems. One of the things he mentioned was that the aspect of resear ch is critical, particularly in our economy, as well as developing local researchers,' Kandjii-Murangi said, recalling what her former principal initially tasked her to do. The minister in an exclusive interview described President Geingob as a highly professional person, an educator and a scholar of note. 'In the cabinet he chaired, that's where we saw him showing his political prowess and vast knowledge in terms of different complex situations within the country, regionally as well as globally.' The minister further recalled that the former head of state was easy to work with. 'At first, when you meet him, you will probably think he is hard and authoritarian. But when you get to know him, you realise that this person is eager to share his knowledge with all those who work with him. And one thing is that he was gifted in was identifying and developing talent,' she said. According to Kandjii-Murangi, when Geingob put together his first cabinet, he took a bold decision to address technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Namibia. He directed that TVET be transformed so that it could become visible and a career path of choice for school learners. 'He directed that access should be expanded by building technical and vocational institutions in regions where they did not exist then,' she said. Since then, a lot of work has been done to realise President Geingob's vision for TVET, but more is still to be done. 'In terms of what we have achieved, we have amended the TVET policy to focus specifically on trades needed to drive the economy. These are trades that speak to the issue of agriculture in terms of ensuring that there is food security in our country. We rolled out agricultural trades in several of our TVET centres where they were not in existence,' the minister said. To ensure the quality of technical and vocational education, Kandjii-Murangi now has a fully-fledged faculty of instructor education at NUST that only looks at TVET instructors. She noted that former President Geingob, when h e launched his first Harambee Prosperity Plan (HHP), directed that each region has a TVET centre. In the HPP, he also directed that Namibia adopt TVET technical and vocational education and training as the standardised international training convention. Kandjii-Murangi added that four regions have already been identified for the establishment of new TVET colleges. 'This year we will launch new TVET centres in Kunene, including the one in the Hardap Region we have already launched. And another one in Keetmanshoop. There is one coming up in Nkurenkuru. The idea of these TVET centres is to ensure that each will focus on different technical trades,' she said. She went on to say that in July 2021, Geingob appointed an eight-member presidential task force on the Fourth Industrial Revolution mandated to look specifically at the preparedness of Namibia in terms of the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. 'That led our two public universities to begin looking at their academic programmes and making sure t hat they are aligned to the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,' Kandjii-Murangi said. Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has assembled experienced and formidable personalities as advisors and managers to steer the party's campaign for the 2024 Election. The team comprised prominent figures within the party including former President John Agyekum Kufuor and current President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, former National Chairman, Freddie Blay, and former Campaign Manager, Peter Mac Manu. The team aims to mobilise support across the country and strategise effectively towards winning the 2024 Election, credible sources told the media after a crunch meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Party in Accra, on Monday. The members of the Party's Council of Elders, including Elizabeth Ohene, Rev. Joyce Aryee, and Akosua Frema Osei Opare, the Chief of Staff are also members of the Campaign Team. The chairman of campaign team is Dan Botwe, the Member of Parliament for Okere and former Local Government and Rural Development Minister, supported by deputies; Fred Oware and Nana Akomea. Together, they would oversee the overall direction of the campaign, coordinating various activities and initiatives. The General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong, takes the role of Director of campaign operations, with National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye, as his deputy. Mr Frederick Opare Ansah, former Member of Parliament for Suhum, takes on the role of Campaign Manager, with deputies; Osei Bonsu Amoah for Parliamentary Campaign, Dr Ibrahim Anyars in charge of Presidential Campaign, while Dr Antoinette Tsibu-Darko takes charge of Research and Administration. The NEC also approved a proposed structure for the Party's national campaign and appointed some individuals to serve on the various campaign committees. A National Campaign Coordinating Committee (NCCC), which shall oversee the work of all other committees, would be chaired by the 2024 Presidential Candidate, assisted by his running-mate, yet to be named. The National Chairman shall also serve on the NCCC. Former President J. A. Kufuor and President Akufo-Addo and all members of the National Council of Elders: Freddie Blay, Elizabeth Ohene, Rev. Joyce Aryee, and Akosua Frema Osei Opare would serve on the National Advisory Committee. Mr Peter Mac Manu is in charge of electoral affairs of the campaign. Mr Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, John Boadu, Kofi Dzamasi, Dr. Susana Alo, Salifu Saeed, Samuel Awuku, Anthony Karbo, Dr. Nyame Baafi, Nii Adjei Sowah are all Senior Campaign Aides. Mr Joseph Cudjoe is the Coordinator for Identifiable Groups, Mavis Hawa Koomson is the campaign Coordinator for the Coastal Zone, Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie, Coordinator for the Middle Belt Zone, and Dominic Nitiwul, Coordinator for the Northern Zone. Dr Gideon Boako is the spokesperson for the NPP Presidential Candidate. Mr Dennis Edward Miracles Aboagye is the Director of Communications for the campaign with Yaw Adomako Baafi and Akbar Khomeni as his deputies. Maxwell Krobea Kwabena Asante is the Coordinator for Social Media. Research Directorate: Dr Isaac Owusu Mensah . Finance and Fund Raising: Dr Alolo Mutaka. Legal Directorate: Frank Davies (Chairman), Gary Nimako Marfo (Deputy). Diplomatic Liaison: Ambassador Edward Boateng. These Committees would be inaugurated at a later date. There shall also be regional, constituency and polling station campaign teams to assist the National Campaign Committees towards the effective execution of their mandate. The NPP Campaign Team Chairman - Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia Vice Chairman - Running Mate Advisors National Chairman Mr J. A. Kufuor Nana Akufo-Addo Mr. Freddy Blah Madam Elizabeth Ohene Madam Joyce Aryee The Chief of staff Operations Mr Justin Frimpong Kodua Strategist Chairman Mr Dan Botwe Vice Chairpersons Mr Fred Oware Nana Akomea Manager Frederick Opare Ansah Deputies Madam Antoinette Tsiboe Darko Mr OB Amoah Dr. Ibrahim Anyars Electoral Affairs Mr Peter Mac Manu National Executives Regional Chairpersons Senior Aides Mr Kwabena Agyepong Mr Kofi Dzamesi Mr John Boadu Dr. Suzanna Alo Mr Salif u Saeed Mr Sammy Awuku Mr Kwasi Nyame Baafi Mr Nii Adjei Sowah Identifiable Groups Joseph Cudjoe Coastal Campaign Madam Hawa Koomson Middle Belt Nana Ayew Afriyie Northern Belt Dominic Nitiwul Director of Communications Denis Miracles Assistants Mr Adomako Baafi Akbar Spokesperson Dr. Gideon Boako Source: Ghana News Agency The Old Mutual Foundation, through the ||Kharas Governor's office, on Monday donated food items to 59 families at Aussenkehr who lost their belongings and houses in a fire last year. The affected families who received food items worth a total N.dollars 30 000, mostly consist of employees of grape companies. The fire occurred in November and claimed the life of a 27-year-old man. Governor Aletha Frederick while thanking the foundation for the gesture, urged the employers and owners of the grape companies, as well as the regional council, to come together and urgently address the pressing housing needs of Aussenkehr residents. 'It is essential that we work together to ensure that these families have a safe and secure place to call home as they rebuild their lives after this devastating tragedy. It is through collective efforts and acts of kindness that we can truly make a difference and build a stronger, more resilient society,' she said. Frederick also encouraged the victims to remain strong and resilient during this difficult time. 'Please know that you are not alone. Many within our community are there to support you and use the donation for its intended purpose, feed your families and alleviate some of the burdens you are facing.' Meanwhile, the Namibia Grape Company (NGC) constructed 24 shacks for their employees affected by the fire and provided beds, mattresses, and gas stoves all to the tune of N.dollars 300 000 funded through the NGC trust. In an interview with Nampa recently, NGC managing director Gideon Nuunyango said the donation to the employees formed part of the company's corporate social responsibility. 'These people are our employees, some have been working here for many years and we decided to help them in this time of need,' he said. Source: The Namibia Press Agency