{"id":53686,"date":"2025-04-02T20:22:25","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T20:22:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/former-namibian-first-lady-monica-geingos-takes-helm-as-inaugural-chancellor-at\/"},"modified":"2025-04-04T11:02:35","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T11:02:35","slug":"former-namibian-first-lady-monica-geingos-takes-helm-as-inaugural-chancellor-at","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/former-namibian-first-lady-monica-geingos-takes-helm-as-inaugural-chancellor-at\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Namibian First Lady Monica Geingos takes helm as inaugural chancellor at Kepler College"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The prestigious event brought together distinguished guests, education leaders, students, and partners, celebrating a new chapter in Kepler College\u2019s commitment to accessible and transformative education across Africa.<\/p>\n<p>Chancellor Geingos, who officially began her term on July 29, 2024, brings a wealth of experience in governance, philanthropy, and youth empowerment. In her inaugural speech, she underscored the pivotal role of education in shaping Africa\u2019s future.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEducation is the most powerful weapon we can wield to reshape our future. The world as we know, is changing at a fast pace, and the future isn\u2019t coming, it\u2019s here. It demands a new kind of African leader,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cToday, as Kepler\u2019s inaugural chancellor, I stand in front of you as a strong believer in the unstoppable force of African youth and the urgency of equipping them with the tools to reshape our future, because we have no more time,\u201d she underscored.<\/p>\n<p>Geingos reflected on Rwanda\u2019s journey of resilience, emphasizing the power of narrative in shaping a nation\u2019s destiny. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cA people who own their narrative control their destiny. When His Excellency President Kagame says, \u2018We must do what is right for our country and not what pleases outsiders,\u2019 he isn\u2019t just speaking policy, he\u2019s declaring intellectual sovereignty. That same sovereignty must define African education,\u201d she emphasized.<\/p>\n<p>She praised Kepler\u2019s impact, highlighting its remarkable record of 95% of graduates securing meaningful employment within six months. Leadership, she emphasized, is not about titles but about action. <\/p>\n<p>The new Chancellor called for a transformative education model that reaches across divides, empowering students from all backgrounds, including refugee communities.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84742 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/054a8780-98c26.jpg\" alt=\"Her Excellency Monica Geingos, former First Lady of the Republic of Namibia the first Chacellor of Kepler College.\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>The inauguration was attended by Dr. Charles Murigande, Chairperson of the Governing Council of Kepler College, who expressed deep gratitude for Geingos accepting the role. \u201cYour wealth of experience and unwavering commitment to education make you an ideal and invaluable leader for our institution,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>He also acknowledged the unwavering support from the Government of Rwanda, particularly the Ministry of Education. \u201cWe are dedicated to supporting the college in its mission to provide innovative, job-driven higher education that equips young people with the skills they need to thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Murigande reaffirmed Kepler\u2019s commitment to making quality education accessible, affordable, and scalable. <\/p>\n<p>On behalf of the Government of Rwanda, State Minister of Education Claudette Irere also extended congratulations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEducation is the foundation of Rwanda\u2019s progress and a key driver of our national development. Institutions like Kepler College are instrumental in realizing this vision by delivering competency-based learning and fostering a strong culture of job readiness,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Irere lauded Geingos\u2019 appointment as a turning point for Kepler College. \u201cHer extensive experience, passion for education, and advocacy for youth empowerment will no doubt propel this institution to new heights.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re confident that under her leadership, Kepler College will continue to nurture graduates who not only achieve academic excellence but also contribute meaningfully to Rwanda and Africa\u2019s socio-economic transformation.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84745 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/054a9444-99df9.jpg\" alt=\"The new Chancellor shares a light moment with Dr. Charles Murigande and Nathalie Munyampenda, the CEO of Kepler College.\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>Addressing Kepler students directly, Irere encouraged them to see their education as a journey of growth and leadership. \u201cRwanda is counting on you to use your education to become the leaders, innovators, and change-makers of tomorrow. Your contributions will help shape a more prosperous, inclusive, and resilient future for our nation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The inauguration of H.E. Monica Geingos as the founding Chancellor of Kepler College marks a significant step forward in the institution\u2019s mission to equip African youth with the education and skills necessary for a brighter future.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84747 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/054a8768-3-5b49c.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Charles Murigande, Chairperson of the Governing Council of Kepler College, who expressed deep gratitude for Geingos accepting the role.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84741 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/054a9185-b2b58.jpg\" alt=\"State Minister of Education Claudette Irere also extended congratulations.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84743 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/054a9404-5e6e5.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84744 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/054a9374-8795f.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84746 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/054a9517-cb6ce.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kepler College marked a historic milestone on April 2, 2025, with the official inauguration of its first Chancellor, Her Excellency Monica Geingos, former First Lady of the Republic of Namibia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":135,"featured_media":2000084740,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[72,75],"byline":[170],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-53686","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-featured-news-home","tag-homenews","byline-igihe"],"bylines":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"contributors":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"featured_image":{"id":2000084740,"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-507.jpg","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":0,"height":0,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-507.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-507.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-507.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-507.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-507.jpg","width":0,"height":0}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53686","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53686"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53686\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000084740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53686"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53686"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53686"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=53686"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=53686"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}