CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO DR GIDEON MAWENGE ON ATTAINING A PhD IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOHENHEIM, STUTTGART, GERMANY
Today, we celebrate an
extraordinary academic journey and a remarkable achievement by Dr Gideon
Mawenge, who has successfully obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in
Agricultural Sciences from the prestigious University of Hohenheim,
Stuttgart, Germany.
Dr Mawenge's story is one of
determination, perseverance, humility, and commitment to education. His
educational journey began from very humble beginnings at Otjiyandjamwenyo
Kindergarten under a tree in Ruacana, where the foundation of his learning
was laid. He then continued his primary education at Otjiyandjamwenyo
Primary School in Ruacana, before proceeding to I.K. Tjimuhiva Combined
School in Omakange. His secondary education took him to Ruacana High
School, where he continued to nurture his academic ambitions.
His pursuit of higher education
led him to Polytechnic of Namibia in Windhoek, which later became the Namibia
University of Science and Technology (NUST). Through hard work and
dedication, he continued climbing the academic ladder until he reached one of
the world's respected institutions in agricultural research, the University
of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany, where he has now earned his PhD in
Agricultural Sciences.
As Uerimanga Tjijombo, The
Himbacracy Philosopher, I would like to share a personal reflection on my
relationship with Dr Gideon Mawenge.
I did not know Gideon before
2014. I first met him at Okambushu-Kovahimba in Windhoek. At that time, I only
saw a short young man who was always smiling, laughing, and making jokes with
everyone around him. He was friendly and approachable, but I never had enough
time to know him personally.
In 2015, I noticed a yellow
Toyota Hilux parked near the GIPF Office in Windhoek. The vehicle carried the
inscription "YaLombe" and displayed a picture of Gideon's late
father. When I looked at the photograph, the face seemed familiar to me. It
reminded me of a man whom I knew as my uncle, a respected man associated with
the surname Tjikange. Curious to know more, I wanted to find the owner
of the vehicle, but nobody was nearby at the time.
Later that day, after returning
from the National Library, I found the same young man standing next to the
vehicle. I greeted him, and he responded with such warmth and happiness that it
felt as if we had known each other for years. Our conversation flowed
naturally, and before I could even ask the question that had brought me there,
we were already sharing stories like old friends.
Our friendship grew further when Never
Kapuhire Ngombe invited us to the Safari Hotel to watch Nigerian
actor Sonia Uche, during an event sponsored by MTC. It was during that
occasion that Gideon and I spent the entire day talking. In the course of our
conversation, he informed me that the man I had associated with the surname
Tjikange was actually his father's brother. I immediately told him that the
same surname was connected to my own family through my uncle. From that day
onward, our connection became stronger.
As the years went by, our
friendship continued to grow, not only through family connections and shared
conversations but also through a special network known as RUA-IK. This
is a group formed by former learners who attended both Ruacana High School
(RUA) and I.K. Tjimuhiva Combined School (IK). The idea behind the
group was simple yet powerful: to unite former learners from these two schools
so that they could continue supporting one another long after leaving the
classroom. The members of RUA-IK work together as a family, celebrating successes,
encouraging one another, and providing assistance during difficult times.
Gideon Mawenge, myself, and many other former learners are proud members of
this family. Through RUA-IK, we have witnessed the importance of unity,
teamwork, and community spirit. Therefore, as Gideon celebrates this remarkable
academic milestone, the entire RUA-IK Family joins his relatives, friends,
colleagues, and well-wishers in congratulating him. His achievement is not only
a personal victory but also a source of pride for all of us who walked the
corridors of Ruacana High School and I.K. Tjimuhiva Combined School. His
journey reminds us that regardless of where we come from, dedication, hard
work, and perseverance can take us from the classrooms of Ruacana and Omakange
to the highest levels of academic excellence in the world.
Over the years, I have come to
know Gideon Mawenge as one of the brightest agricultural scholars from our
community. Alongside distinguished academics such as Dr Venaune Hepute,
he represents a generation of intellectuals who continue to inspire young
Namibians. What makes Gideon special is not only his academic excellence but
also his character. He is always cheerful, humble, sociable, and willing to
engage with everyone. He laughs easily, treats people with respect, and makes
others feel comfortable in his presence. However, when it comes to academics
and professional work, he is highly disciplined, focused, and committed to
excellence. He is not someone to be underestimated when it comes to books and
research.
Today, as he graduates with a PhD
from Germany, his achievement serves as an inspiration to countless young
people from Ruacana, Omakange, Kunene Region, and Namibia as a whole. His
journey demonstrates that great achievements do not depend on where one starts
in life, but on determination, resilience, and a commitment to lifelong
learning.
Dr Gideon Mawenge's success is a
victory for his family, his community, his friends, his former schools,
Namibia, and Africa at large. May this achievement open even greater
opportunities for him to contribute to agricultural development, food security,
scientific research, and national development.
Congratulations, Dr Gideon
Mawenge. Your journey from learning under a tree in Ruacana to earning a
PhD from one of Germany's finest universities is a powerful testimony that
dreams are valid and achievable through hard work and perseverance.
May God bless you abundantly as
you begin this new chapter of your life and career.
Congratulations once again, Dr Gideon Mawenge!
Written by:
Uerimanga Tjijombo
The Himbacracy Philosopher
