Director of Ceremonies, Right Honourable Nahas Angula, Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Sam Nujoma Foundation;
Honourable Ministers;
Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Honourable Governors;
Honourable Regional and Local Concillors;
Distinguished Captains of Industries;
Distinguished Invited Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen,
First and foremost, I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of our distinguished hosts Mr and Mrs Bastos, Mr and Mrs Savva, and their Management team to welcome you all to this fundraising gala dinner of The Sam Nujoma Foundation. We are indeed heartened by your response to spend this evening with us and support the Foundation in its efforts.
Since its launch in 2004, The Sam Nujoma Foundation has been playing and continues to play complementary role in contributing to our country's socio-economic development by pursuing its social responsibility activities such as providing assistance and support to orphans and vulnerable members of our society.
Moreover, the Foundation vies the development of Namibia 's human resources as one of the main challenges facing our country. Despite the numerous achievements that our country has made over the years in the education sector, we still lack medical doctors, engineers, quantity surveyors, veterinary doctors, geologists and other technical personnel who should play a pivotal role in the implementation of our national development goals and programmes, in line with Vision 2030.
Our Government allocates the lions' share of our national budget to education and training, yet many Namibians still lack equitable access to education and many of our high school leavers struggle to obtain funds to pay for further education at the institutions of higher learning.
It is for these reasons that The Sam Nujoma Foundation wishes to complement our government by contributing to this national endeavour by sponsoring students through bursaries and grants to enable them to realize their dreams.
Over the past three years, The Sam Nujoma Foundation facilitated and enabled students pursuing further education at the University of Namibia , Polytechnic of Namibia and various institutions of higher learning in South Africa to obtain financial assistance from various institutions and private sector for further studies.
Director of Ceremonies,
The promotion of science and mathematics remain the priority of the Foundation. During the year 2007/2008, the Foundation donated 18 sets of computers to 9 schools in Oshana, Khomas, Caprivi and Omusati regions. I am confident that when put to good use, these computers will enable our children to acquire computer literacy and enhance their acquisition of IT skills.
As we pursue the second phase of the struggle for economic independence, we should be equally cognizant of the many Namibians who have been economically and socially disadvantaged through many years of apartheid colonialism. Various communities have been deliberately impoverished through displacement by the former colonial regimes and robbed of their livelihoods.
Although our government has made concerted efforts to assist such communities through resettlement and integrating them into the Namibian society after independence, the impact of colonial marginalization still continues to affect them. The Sam Nujoma Foundation has made efforts to assist various disadvantaged communities by donating blankets, clothing and foodstuffs to ease their plight.
This year, The Sam Nujoma Foundation donated 744 blankets, 10 bed sheets and 410 t-shirts to vulnerable groups and flood affected families in Ohangwena, Oshana, Caprivi, Oshikoto, Kavango and Omusati Regions.
In addition, various foodstuffs such as wheat flour, macaroni, mahangu and maize meal were donated to vulnerable groups and HIV/Aids centres in Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Kavango, Kunene , Ohangwena, Oshana, Oshikoto, Omusati, Khomas, Omaheke and Otjozondjupa Regions during the course of this year.
Other beneficiaries were the San community through the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
The Foundation will continue to provide assistance in our modest way to various communities. In order to achieve its goal, the Foundation will require huge financial resources. It is for these reasons that we appeal to all the invited guests gathered here this evening to open your hearts and support the Foundation in its endeavors.
Director of Ceremonies,
As you are all aware, every organization experiences teething problems during the initial years of its formation. This is also true for The Sam Nujoma Foundation. I, therefore, wish to take this opportunity to express my thanks and appreciation on behalf of the Board of Trustees to various individuals and companies who are always ready to render support to the Foundation. Among them, I would like to single out the Chinese Embassy, Namib Mills , Namibia Wildlife Resorts, the Ohlthaver and List Group of Companies, Paragon Investment Holdings,Emeritus Fishing, Corvima Group and Venus Group.
Thank you very much for your continuous support and for your keen interest in the Foundation's work.
At this juncture, I would like to express my profound gratitude to Mr. Louis Bastos of the Corvima Fishing (Pty) Ltd and Mr. John Savva of Atlantic Hotel for sponsoring this fundraising gala dinner this evening. The Sam Nujoma Foundation would like to call upon all Namibians to render their assistance to the Foundation to realize its objectives.
Once again, I would like to appeal to all of you to extend a hand of support to The Sam Nujoma Foundation through your pledges and donations.
Enjoy your evening.
I thank you.
