Windhoek Medical University (WMU) Board Chairperson Erastus Nekuta has extended an apology to the public for the premature advertisements of their unregistered courses on social media.

In an interview with Nampa on Tuesday, Nekuta said the advertisements were wrongly placed on social media, and they take full accountability.

"I have taken full control. It’s a mistake from our side, and we fully accept our mistake. We apologize for that, and as a result, we have ceased all advertisements in the media with the exception of the short courses that are non-professional," Nekuta said.

This was after the Health Professions Council of Namibia (HPCNA) last week warned the public against registering with WMU for certificates, diplomas, and degree programs in various healthcare-related fields as advertised on social media.

"The public is being warned that neither the above-mentioned institution nor the healthcare-related courses advertised are approved by any of the councils as required by the relevant acts," HPCNA announced in a statement.

Nekuta explained that the HPCNA had sent out a letter in late 2022 to stop the advertising of their unregistered services, and he gave clear instructions to management that all advertisements be suspended prior to his leave. When he arrived, he discovered that the posts had not been removed, so he took the initiative to stop it.

He admitted that the university is still not registered with the relevant regulatory authorities but is in the process of obtaining its proper accreditation.

"We have to follow the due process of registration with all relevant authorities. There will be no shortcuts, and it is in the best interest of our people," the chairperson said.

Meanwhile, Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) Deputy Chief Executive Officer Asnath Kaperu confirmed that the university is also not registered with the authority.

Kaperu, in an interview with Nampa on Monday, said: "Windhoek Medical University is not on our list of accredited institutions and their programs."

This is despite information on its website, which reads that 'the university has the full support of the National Authorities under legal registration with all national regulatory firms and societies."

Nekuta said he still needs to get hold of the website manager so that they can remove anything that is likely to incriminate them.