CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO DR GIDEON MAWENGE ON ATTAINING A PhD IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOHENHEIM, STUTTGART, GERMANY

DR GIDEON MAWENGE

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