By: Stephanus Pombili
The International University of Management (IUM) was established in 1994 as the Institute of Higher Education by the Honorable Professor David Richard Namwandi. Officially launched as Namibia’s first private university in 2002 by then-President Sam Nujoma, IUM began with a single student. Today, it stands as one of the nation’s premier institutions—founded by a visionary Black Namibian whose unwavering commitment is to impart knowledge and contribute profoundly to the country’s social development.
David Richard Namwandi, the founder of IUM, is neither of European nor Chinese descent but hails from Okapya village in the Oshana Region. Few could have imagined that a boy from Okapya would one day establish such a formidable institution without government subsidies or bailouts. As Dag Heward-Mills aptly stated, “Everything depends on leadership.”Thus, we must commend this exceptional Black leader from Okapya.
I first learned of IUM when it expanded to Nkurenkuru in 2015/16. At the time, as a police constable, many of us sought enrollment, but the courses offered did not align with my interests. Back then, IUM operated behind Israel Bar in Nkurenkuru. Today, however, it boasts the finest university campus in the entire region. My recent visit to IUM’s Dorado Park campus left me in awe—throngs of students were enrolling in programs ranging from certificates to PhDs. The university’s infrastructure is impeccable, with rigorous maintenance underway across nearly every department—a testament to the institution’s exemplary leadership and management.
From a single student in 1994, IUM has grown into an academic giant, with campuses nationwide in Windhoek, Nkurenkuru, Ongwediva, Eenhana, Swakopmund, and Walvis Bay. The main campus alone averages 8,000 students pursuing qualifications from certificates to doctorates. According to EduRank, IUM is ranked 10,233rd globally out of 14,131 universities, 487th in Africa out of 10,104, and 3rd in Namibia.
EduRank is an independent, metric-based ranking system evaluating 14,131 universities across 183 countries. It leverages the world’s largest scholarly database—comprising 115,295,786 scientific publications and 2,964,008,315 citations—to assess institutions in 246 research topics. The rankings also incorporate non-academic prominence and alumni popularity.
From its humble beginnings with one student, IUM now enrolls over 16,388 students and is acclaimed as Namibia’s top university by the prestigious *Times Higher Education World University Rankings* and other globally recognized ranking bodies. As of its 2023 annual report, IUM employs 440 staff members: 119 administrative personnel, 199 full-time academics, and 122 part-time lecturers. Of these, 420 are Namibians, while 20 are expatriates. Beyond academic excellence, IUM has generated employment and empowered countless youth through education.
Today, I was privileged not merely to observe but to analyze, conduct feasibility studies, and conclude that IUM is not only Namibia’s finest university but also its most affordable. As of 2025, it hosts over 19,000 students—the largest student pool in the country—alongside a diverse international cohort from Africa and beyond. While many Black-owned enterprises have faltered due to poor leadership and incompetence, IUM, as I witnessed today, continues to flourish as a dominant force in Namibian education.
Under Professor David Richard Namwandi’s leadership, IUM has expanded from one student in 1994 to over 19,000 in just three decades. Namibia must celebrate his legacy and emulate his visionary governance. At a time when political interference threatens academic institutions, it is imperative that we, as Black Africans, champion those who are genuinely advancing human capital—the cornerstone of national development.
