The Old Mutual Foundation announced yesterday its ongoing sponsorship of the African Leadership Institute (ALI), a programme that has been endorsed by the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture since its inception in 2007.

The three-year sponsorship agreement, which was confirmed in 2021, is now entering its final year.

Under the partnership agreement, the Old Mutual Foundation committed to a yearly contribution of N$300 000 for three years to support the training and development of Principals and Heads of Department (HOD) in government primary and high schools across the country.

The programme, known as the Certificate in Transformational Leadership (CTL), aims to empower educational leaders with the necessary skills and knowledge to drive positive change within their schools and communities.

Representing the Old Mutual Foundation, Ms Mignon du Preez, Group Executive of the Marketing, Public Affairs, and Sustainability Department, expressed the Foundation’s commitment to this initiative which aligns with the company’s long-standing values and corporate social responsibility efforts.

“By supporting the CTL program, the Foundation aims to empower educational leaders and strengthen the foundation of the Namibian education system, thus enabling the growth and success of future generations.”

The Ministry of Education has shown great enthusiasm for the programme, recognising its potential to enhance leadership capabilities within the education sector.

Dr. Chrisna Von Gericke-Fourie, Co-Founder and Training Director of the African Leadership Institute, expressed her excitement about the long-standing partnership with Old Mutual.

“We are ecstatic about Old Mutual’s Foundation’s ongoing support over the years,” said Von Gericke-Fourie.

“Their commitment has been instrumental in enabling us to provide quality training to school leaders, empowering them to make a meaningful difference in their schools and communities.”

Kalistus Funette, a school principal at Gcwagi Senior Primary, Bunya circuit in the Kavango West region, a 2022 beneficiary of the Old Mutual sponsorship said: “Old Mutual Namibia through its Foundation has given me a chance to be capacitated and empowered with the tools necessary for me to lead and manage an organisation in the 21st century”.

Such success stories reaffirm the importance and effectiveness of the partnership between the Old Mutual Foundation and the African Leadership Institute.

As the sponsorship enters its final year, the Old Mutual Foundation remains committed to supporting the development of educational leaders in Namibia and looks forward to witnessing the continued growth and success of the African Leadership Institute’s Transformational Leadership Programme.

In the photo: The Class of 2023 with Mr Fillemon Nangolo, Deputy Director in the Directorate of Programmes and Quality Assurance, Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, seated in the middle.