Virginia Namwandi started off with only Sh4,000 and one student in 1994. She bought a small blackboard, chair and a table.
Nineteen years ago, Virginia Namwandi started off with nothing but a dream and went on to successfully co-found the first private university in Namibia. The International University of Management begun in one of the rooms of her three bedroomed house in Windhoek. Namwandi’s efforts have not gone unnoticed and she has been nominated for an award by the Windhoek Lager Ambassador search under the education category.
Namwandi was born and raised in Nairobi. She studied in Kenya High School where she served as a head girl. Thereafter, she pursued her tertiary education at the University of Nairobi where she met David Namwandi who was furthering his education at the time. They fell in love, married and moved to Namibia when they had completed their studies.
Their journey of creating a university is both humbling and inspirational, starting off with only 500 Namibian dollars (Sh4,000) in 1994. They bought a small blackboard, chair and a table. It was then known as the Institute of Higher Learning and had only one student. Later, they were able to hire a television set to show some educational videos from the Association of Business Executives. Her husband was the first and only lecturer while she was the first employee.
The university grew over the years and in 2002, it was accorded full university status by the Namibian Ministry of Education. Today, the institution has four branches across Namibia with a total of 6,700 students. The university offers bachelors and masters programmes in four fields of study: HIV/Aids management, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Strategic Management and Information Technology. Currently, Mrs Namwandi is the Vice Chancellor of the university.
The International University of Management strives to offers state of the art facilities for its students. The lecture halls are furnished with modern hi-tech teaching aids such as interactive ‘smart’ boards, projectors and PA systems. The computer labs are equipped to high-speed hot-spots to ensure speedy and efficient Internet connectivity. Moreover, as it grows the university continues to enroll more international students.-.the-star.co.ke
Kenyan Who Started First Private University in Namibia
