SSC and UNAM sign cooperation agreement

WINDHOEK, 07 NOV – The Social Security Commission (SSC) and University of Namibia (UNAM) on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding in a bid to foster cooperation in various fields and provide sustainable solutions to Namibia’s socio-economic problems.
The MoU was signed on behalf of the two institutions by SSC’s Executive Officer, Milka Mungunda and UNAM Vice Chancellor, Kenneth Matengu.
“I believe we have found an excellent partner in UNAM in our quest to fulfil our mandate of social protection and also contribute toward the attainment of the fifth national development plan goals for economic progression and social transformation,” Mungunda said.
Areas of cooperation include exploration of mutual cooperation in academic, technical, social, cultural, economic and environmental fields.
As part of the agreement, the two institutions will collaborate in research and capacity building, while internship opportunities for UNAM’s students also feature prominently in the agreement, along with the exploration of opportunities for collaboration on the hosting of joint seminars and conferences.
Matengu, on his part, said it will take the two institutions and Namibia as a country to even greater heights.
“There is an African saying that ‘if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.’ We will go together,” he said.
He also took time to highlight challenges faced by about 12 million unemployed graduates globally and how agreements such as the one with SSC would help remedy the situation.
Reiterating Mungunda’s sentiments, Matengu said the agreement will play a crucial role in Namibia’s quest for food security and creation of new knowledge.
“From our point of view, one of the things we will be focusing on is to see how we can use knowledge to support the projects that have been identified by the Social Security Commission as a model for sustainable development in terms of food security, decolonising education and consideration of local knowledge,” he said.
(NAMPA)