Venezuelan students share experience
A grateful Auibeb thanks NSFAF chief executive Hilya Nghiwete for funding their studies. (Photograph by Ogone Tlhage)
Speaking at the welcoming this week, Nghiwete said, “We initiated the Venezuelan study programme in 2010 and currently have 17 students in Venezuela. It is the culmination of work between various government ministries, comprising the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Works and Transport.
The students were represented by an excited and thankful Agriculture major, Gerrard Auibeb who is impatiently awaiting his return to Namibia to plough back into his native Outjo. The Outjo native was full of praise for the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund and in particular its Chief Executive Hilya Nghiwete.
“We are thankful to the government, the Namibian Embassy in Venezuela and the Venezuelan government. We have been received with warm hearts and the fund has really taken care of us. We do not have a lot of complaints about our time in Venezuela.”
NSFAF Chief Executive, Hilya Nghiwete was also quick to add that the group in Venezuela presented the fund with the least complaints and for the better part, were independent.
Added Auibeb, “the CEO even responded to our texts at odd hours of the night and for that we were very thankful.”
Encouragingly, Namibian student, a Civil Engineering major, Erica Ashiyana is creating a very good impression and according to a proud Auibeb, she succeeded in setting academic records. Asked how his studies are going, Auibeb responded in laughter: “While some of us are setting university records, others will surely catch up.”
Auibeb said that he was relishing in a challenge and would like to return to his native Outjo to aid in the development of his community. According to him, since their return, they have had very little time to themselves and were quickly taken to go around the country to assess projects the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is engaged in.
Said Auibeb, “we were able to assess for ourselves what is happening on the ground and could make some recommendations. Auibeb thanked the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and in particular the former deputy premier, retired politician Libertine Amathila.
The group is expected to return to Venezuela shortly as some are on the final legs of their study.
