Namibia’s Bertha heading to Oxford
Namibia’s Bertha Tobias has won the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship for BLMNS [Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia and eSwatini] for 2024.Bertha will be heading to the University of Oxford in October 2024 to join a cohort of more than a hundred scholars from around the globe to undertake fully funded post-graduate studies and become part of a strong community of young leaders determined to make a positive difference in the world.
Bertha hails from Windhoek and is currently completing a BA (Hons) in International Relations (Energy Concentration & Leadership) at Claremont McKenna College in California. Her interests lie in development studies and her intended field of study at Oxford University is an MSc in Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment.
“As an alumna of the United World College in China, I’m interested in energy and natural resource management in emerging economies. A Public Leadership Fellow of Apolitical Academy Southern Africa, I plan to read for the MSc in Sustainability, Enterprise & the Environment, as well as an MSc in Water Science, Policy & Management,” Bertha said.
In her free time, Bertha is the executive producer of her television show, Spotlight, which chronicles the experiences of young African entrepreneurs. Having served on the frontlines of a national protest movement against femicide, she serves in a voluntary role as a #BeFree Ambassador, a flagship project under the Office of the First Lady of the Republic of Namibia.
On hearing of the award of the Rhodes Scholarship, Bertha said she is extremely grateful to everyone who rallied around her during the rigorous selection process. “My biggest hope is that little black girls where I'm from will see themselves reflected in this win and that they are emboldened to dare greatly and consistently, despite what the world has said about them.”
Seeking excellence
The BLMNS Rhodes Scholarship, which forms part of the Southern African constituency, is awarded annually to an outstanding graduate, from one of the five-member states.
This year, 91 candidates submitted applications - the highest ever number for the BLMNS region, which has shown a steady increase in applications over the last six years.
Eight candidates from across the region were shortlisted for interviews in Johannesburg, which took place in September. The interviewees represented universities from across the globe with majors in a range of disciplines. Following a rigorous interview process, Bertha Tobias was the selection committee’s unanimous choice for this prestigious award.
The Rhodes Scholarship is the world’s preeminent and oldest graduate fellowship, based at the University of Oxford since 1903. Over the last 120 years, nearly 1 000 graduates from Southern Africa have been awarded Rhodes Scholarships.
Ten Rhodes Scholarships are awarded annually in the Southern African constituency, comprising South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia and eSwatini. Selections are currently in progress across the constituency.
The applications for the 2025 Rhodes Scholarships will open in June 2024. More information about the Scholarship application be found at: www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/apply.