Page 5 - CITATION-2 (Honorary Doctorate)(Justus GAROEB)

Gaob Justus |Uruhe //Garoëb
NAMCOL Annual Report 2019/2020

1. INTRODUCTION

Your Excellency, Mr. Chancellor Sir, as the University in particular, and the Honoris Causa
Country in general rebounds from the unprecedent onslaught of COVID 19. As we
celebrate our 30th Anniversary as the University of Namibia, we are also facing
the threat of H1N1. But at this auspicious graduation ceremony, the University
of Namibia is once again, rising to its true depth of character and wit - a public
university committed to education, service, and development - also for the sake
of posterity. I am humbled by the honour afforded to me to present someone, a
special someone, a symbol of resilience and cultural and linguistic identity. In my
recent and only interaction with him, he told me that the Damara people are like
the Oryx they will only fight when pushed into a corner without choice. Perhaps,
it is not incidental that his parents named this gallant son, |Uruhe – meaning,
‘ the forgotten one’. I am adding, he is a permanent marker, for good or for
bad. The University of Namibia (UNAM) has an academic tradition of awarding
honorary doctorates to recognise distinguished personalities for their exceptional
contributions or achievements that are exceptional to humanity. Before I present
the merits that led the University of Namibia structures to consider our candidate
worthy of conferment of honoris causa, allow me to inform you that as the word
itself suggests, honoris causa is a recognition conferred on individuals for the
sake of honour, and nothing else. To honour, in many Namibian languages
means to respect, to recognise, to render worthy. This conferment, therefore,
is a deep and lasting reciprocal relationship between UNAM and the recipient,
and through UNAM, it also establishes a connection with all those who have
and will study at UNAM for the sake of honour. It is within this spirit that I,
being a graduate of this institution, also have the honour to present to you a
people’s choice, a distinguished son of the Namibian soil, a man who since
childhood, realised his prominent awaiting service to his community, a man who
remained focussed without being distracted from his vision and mission to serve
his people.

Gaob as a reigning Gaob of the ǂNûkhoen (Damaran), he has always been
highly regarded by his people by his famous tendline: “Tās |Aesa |Ari” meaning,
let the fire not burn out.

Spring Graduation 2022 | 5