Monica Geingos Explained

Monica Geingos (née Kalondo; born 15 November 1976)^[1] is a Namibian entrepreneur and lawyer who served as the 3rd First Lady of Namibia from 2015 until her husband died in 2024. She has been a board member and director within many of the country's large companies.^[2] She also chaired the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.^[3] She was the President of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development.^[4] The former first lady of Namibia now serves as the Chancellor of Kepler College in Kigali, Rwanda.^[5]

Career

Geingos holds B.Juris and LLB degrees^[6] and has spent years as a private equity and governance expert in the financial sector.^[7]

In 2012, she was voted one of Namibia's 12 most influential people,^[8] and in 2020 she was on the list of 100 most influential African women.^[9] Geingos is a graduate of the University of Namibia and spent the early part of her career working for the Namibia Stock Exchange (NSX) in Windhoek. Geingos served as chairman of the board of eBank Namibia and is the managing director of the financial undertaking Stimulus,^[10] and general director of Point Break.^[11]

Personal life

Geingos married the then-president-electof Namibia, Hage Geingob, on 14 February 2015, shortly before he was sworn into office.^[12] She served as First Lady from 21 March 2015 to 04 February 2024, when Geingob died. During her husband's funeral, she described to him that he was born a peasant and died a president. Despite his modest upbringing, President Hage Geingob accomplished remarkable feats and influenced numerous lives.^{[13] [14]}

Awards

Mrs. Geingos was awarded the World Without AIDS Award from the German AIDS Foundation.^[15]

Legacy

A school in Otjiwarongo, Monica Geingos Junior Secondary School is named after Mrs. Geingos.^[16] A street, Monica Geingos Street in Mondesa, Swakopmund is also named after her.^[17]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Monica Geingos. 27 December 2021. Facebook. en.
2. Web site: Madame Monica Geingos . 17 February 2023 . Concordia . en-US.
3. Web site: Monica Geingos: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg. www.bloomberg.com. 25 December 2017.
4. Web site: Organisation of African First Ladies for Development . https://web.archive.org/web/20240227081035/https://oaflad.org/en/oaflad_members/h-e-mrs-monica-geingos/ . 27 February 2024.
5. Web site: Namibian . Feni Hiveluah, The . 2024-08-19 . Monica Geingos appointed chancellor of Rwanda’s Kepler College . 2024-08-26 . The Namibian . en-GB.
6. News: First Lady Masters of Success next quest. 19 June 2015. New Era. en-ZA.
7. Web site: First Lady of Namibia Monica Geingos, UNAIDS Special Advocate for Young Women and Adolescent Girls. 20 May 2021. www.unaids.org. en.
8. Web site: The Villager-2012 most influential personalities . Thevillager.com.na . 27 September 2016.
9. News: Geingos, Theofelus among 100 most influential women . Siririka . Paheja . . 21 August 2020 . en.
10. Web site: New Era Publication Corporation . On the Spot with Chairperson of EBank, Monica Kalondo | New Era Newspaper Namibia . Newera.com.na . 11 July 2014 . 27 September 2016.
11. News: Monica Geingos first Namibian speaker at 'Masters of Success'. The Namibian. 25 December 2017. en.
12. http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=133660&page=archive-read Geingob, Monica say 'I do'
13. Web site: Matthys . Donald . 2024-02-24 . ‘You were born a peasant and died a president’ – Monica on her Hage . 2024-05-18 . The Namibian . en-GB.
14. Web site: Geingos . Monica . 2024-02-27 . My president, my husband, my best friend . 2024-05-18 . The Namibian . en-GB.
15. Web site: Mrs. Monica Geingos . 2024-08-29 . WomenLift Health . en-US.
16. Web site: Namibian . The . 2017-10-16 . Geingos rewards outstanding pupils and teachers . 2024-08-29 . The Namibian . en-GB.
17. Web site: Swakopmund street named after FLON nbc . 2024-08-29 . nbcnews.na.