Akwenye is new DBN Chairperson
Penny Akwenye has been appointed as Development Bank of Namibia’s new Chairperson.
Speaking at the DBN head office this week, Akwenye pledged to consolidate the three principles of banking, to ensure teamwork and to see the bank fulfil its mandate of fostering economic growth and social development and also see that DBN becomes a leading financial institution in advocating, implementing and sustaining both government and private sector development efforts.
DBN board also received a new board member, Tabitha Mbome who takes over from Asnake Getachew.
The remaining members retain their respective positions.
“The past five years have given me the opportunity to work with an exceptional group of people who share the same motivation, to improve the lives of Namibians”, said Angula as she expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the DBN management, staff and board for being such an exceptional group of people.
During Angula’s tenure the bank approved more than N$4. 2 billion in finance and had an impact on 53 000 jobs. She said that she is leaving DBN in the most capable of hands, “My successor, Ms Penny Akwenye, has vast experience, and will offer the Bank insights and direction that will propel the Bank to even greater heights.”
Akwenye was born in Oshikango in the Ohangwena Region and completed her primary education at Engela. She started her secondary schooling at Ongwediva before going into exile where she completed her secondary education in Nigeria.
From there she went to the former East Germany where she graduated in agricultural economics in 1984.
In 1989 she repatriated to Namibia under UN resolution 435 and in 1990 she joined the Ministry of Agriculture.
In 1993 Akwenye joined the UN Institute for Planning in Dakar, Senegal where she completed her Masters degree in planning.
After her return home she rejoined the Ministry of Agriculture as deputy director of planning, a post she held between 1995 and 2001, in that very year she also worked as director of planning for the National Planning Commission and in April 2004 she joined the Development Bank of Namibia as Manager Special Development Fund.
