Over 900 students graduated from the University of Namibia's Ongwediva Campus.

Higher Education, Technology, and Innovation Minister Itah Kandji-Murangi reminded the graduates to be conscious, as they are living in a globally competitive world where success is dependent on knowledge acquisition, application, innovation, and productivity.

Dr. Kandjii Murangi says UNAM has pumped into the market thousands of graduates sufficient to contribute to nation-building and its well-being.

Higher Education, Training, and Innovation Minister Itah Kandjii-Murangi has said the development of professional and technical human resources, research, science, technology, and innovation infrastructure is the cornerstone of the transformation of the Namibian economy.

Kandjii-Murangi made the remarks during a high-level tertiary education funding budget review dinner held in the capital on Thursday.

The Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Technology, and Innovation noted with concern the absence of some regions from the National Skills Competition.

Natalia |Goagoses said this during the inspection of the participating trades in the competition.

The regions that are not represented are the Kunene, Hardap, and Kavango regions, among others.

The minister says provision needs to be made to ensure that no region is left behind in development.

She further suggested that the country's identity should be portrayed in the skills competition.

The government has spent over N$ 7 billion in funding students' tuition at public and private institutions of higher learning in the past 5 years.

In a media statement, the Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Itah Kandjii-Murangi says eligible and qualifying students whose parents' combined income is below N$ 500 000 per annum are given priority for government funding.

Dr. Kandjii-Murangi urges all eligible students to take responsibility for their education by ensuring that contracts with NSFAF are fully completed and signed.