STAFF WRITER
Former Namibian First Lady Monica Geingos gave the University of Johannesburg audience a window into the plans that she laid down to do after her tenure at statehouse with her late husband Hage Geingob.
It included studying, travelling the world, and studying for her doctorate.
However fate cut short their plans when her husband died on 4 February 2024 – a year ahead of their planned exit from the statehouse..
The University of Johannesburg has conferred an honorary doctorate on former First Lady of Namibia, lawyer, entrepreneur and global advocate for health equity, Geingos on Monday.
Through the One Economy Foundation and the #BeFree Movement, Geingos has championed youth empowerment, HIV awareness and social justice across Africa, University of Johannesburg said.
“Today we honour her leadership, impact and enduring commitment to advancing dignity, equality and opportunity,” the university said.
In her acceptance speech , Geingos dedicated her honorary degree to the students of the university who were capped at the same time as well as her late husband, Hage Geingob, who she described as a pillar of strength and motivator.
“One year before my husband’s tenure of presidency was coming to an end we spoke about all the places we wanted to visit. We spoke about how our first day outside the presidency will look like. My husband always challenged me to go ahead and study and earn my PHD . He had set up an office at the farm for me soIwill take up my doctorate and he was going to be my self appointed supervisor,” she said.
Geingos told the audience that.”Many people ask me why I don’t want to contest for presidency but I tell them I only want to do things that matter and politics doesn’t matter to me. I want to do things that change lives,” she said.
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