Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Prime Minister of Namibia (cropped-e1690302990535.jpg)

 

Women and Adversity:
Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila
Prime Minister of Namibia 

It’s possible most Americans haven’t heard of  Namibia, officially Republic of Namibia. It is a country of nearly 319 square miles in western Africa bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west, Angola to the north, Botswana to the east, Zambia to the northeast, and South Africa to the southeast and south. It has a varied terrain from deserts, mountains, canyons and savannas. English is the national language, but only three percent of the 2.53 million people speak it. The country’s name comes from Namib desert, the oldest desert in the world. Before its independence in 1990, Namibia was known as German South-West Africa then as South West Africa.

Saara Kuugongelwa (pronounced Sore⸍ a COO gon go lah-a ma DEE lah) assumed office of prime minister, the first woman to hold that office, March 21, 2015. She is highly respected and works to better her country, especially for women, who suffer discrimination and exclusion. Namibian Women’s Day aims to give women a louder voice in their society.

Kuugongelwa   bio:
Born October 12, 1967 in Okahao, Omusati, Namibia when it was named South West Africa
1980 — went into exile with South West Africa People’s Organization. She was 13
1982-84 —  attended Koidu Girls Secondary School, Sierra Leone
1984-87 — attended St. Joseph Secondary School, Sierra Leone
1991-94 — earned a master of science degree in economics from historically
                   Black Lincoln University in Pennsylvania; given honorary doctorate

 Political Career:
1995-2003 — Director General, National Planning Commission
2003-2015 — Minister of Finance
2015- present — prime minister

 Goals:
Gender equality
Recognize women’s rights as human rights

Personal life:
Married to Tobias Onesmus Amadhila, a businessman, suspected of irregularities in his business dealings.
(Some publications have it Onesmus Tobias Amadhila.)
No children

 Learn more about Saara Kuugongelwa:
https://thewomenleaders.com/saara-kuugongelwa
https://guardian.ng/ama-press-releases/prime-minister-saara-kuugongelwa-amadhila-to-provide-mentoring-advice-2
Saara Kuugongelwa Biography – Current Prime Minister of Namibia | Pantheon
Human Rights Day / Women’s Day 2023, 2024 and 2025 in Namibia – PublicHolidays.africa

My ebooks available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com:

Honoring 23 Black Women, Recognizing 23 Notable Mothers, Saluting 23 Faithful Suffragists  

Article By: Jo Ann Mathews

I published three ebooks in 2020: Women and Adversity, Honoring 23 Black Women; Women and Adversity, Recognizing 23 Notable Mothers; and Women and Adversity, Saluting 23 Faithful Suffragists to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. These books are meant to be study guides for all students from grade school through college to help in choosing topics for assignments and to learn more about these noteworthy women. Go to amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and goodreads.com to learn more.

  1. Regina says:

    Thanks for another bite size inspirational story. Enjoyed it!

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