Namibia University of Science and Technology student Mandume Hasheni (20) received a fully furnished food trailer worth N$130 000 for winning the 2024 Nedbank Kapana Cook-off Competition two months ago.
Speaking at a special handover of the keys to the trailer at his residence at Ombili, Windhoek, Hasheni said: “Winning this competition was life-changing.
The food trailer has been a dream come true, and I’m eager to get started while also managing my schoolwork.”
Hasheni, who balances his academic pursuits with serving kapana at the Single Quarters open-market at Katutura, impressed judges with his unique kapana-cooking skills to win the competition.
According to main sponsor Nedbank Namibia, this balancing of school and business exemplifies the resilience and determination the competition seeks to foster in future leaders.
Nedbank spokesperson Selma Kaulinge says the kapana cook-off competition aims to promote entrepreneurship by giving current and aspiring cooks a platform to show off their culinary skills.
The overall winner in the competition not only walks away with the trailer but also receives a cash injection of N$10 000 in a Nedbank account, as well as access to a training programme from Agra ProVision worth N$6 000 and a N$5 000 Bakpro voucher.
Nedbank believes investing in the next generation is key to building strong communities and economies, and this initiative exemplifies that commitment.
Kaulinge highlighted the importance of such competitions.
“As money experts who do good, seeing young people like [Hasheni] turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality reaffirms why we invest in competitions like the Nedbank Kapana Cook-off Competition.
By offering prizes like the fully furnished food trailer, we are helping to create instant businesspeople who can immediately contribute to the economy and make a difference in their lives,” she says.
Since winning the competition, Hasheni has been scouting around for a suitable site to set up the trailer and kick-start his business operations.
– email: matthew@namibian.com.na
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