Also known as: former first lady Monica Geingos · H.E. Geingos · Former first lady · madam Monica Geingos · madame Monica Geingos · first lady Monica Geingos · 3rd First Lady
Former First Lady, founder of One Economy Foundation and #BeFree Movement Project, appointed Board Chair of Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health.
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The Namibian
Monica Geingos is a lawyer and businesswoman
“His latest wife, Monica Geingos, is a lawyer and businesswoman.”
Hage Geingob: Namibia's veteran statesmanThe Namibian
First lady Monica Geingos attended the launch of Cafe Capri
“The launch of Cafe Capri was attended by prominent people such as president Hage Geingob, first lady Monica Geingos, the minister of industrialisation and trade, Lucia lipumbu, presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari, ministry of sport, youth and national service deputy minister Emma Kantema-Gaomas, the deputy minister of information and communication technology, Emma Theofelus, and many more.”
New Restaurant Cafe Capri a Hit in TownThe Namibian
First lady Monica Geingos attended the launch of Cafe Capri
“The launch of Cafe Capri was attended by prominent people such as president Hage Geingob, first lady Monica Geingos, the minister of industrialisation and trade, Lucia lipumbu, presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari, ministry of sport, youth and national service deputy minister Emma Kantema-Gaomas, the deputy minister of information and communication technology, Emma Theofelus, and many more.”
New Restaurant Cafe Capri a Hit in TownThe Namibian
Monica Geingos said debt for education is good, debt for expensive shoes is bad
“If you go into debt because you are paying to study, that's a good debt, but if you go into debt because you want expensive shoes, that's a bad debt.”
Avoid Unnecessary DebtsFormer first lady Monica Geingos told graduates of the Îsabedi Cultural Training Programme to be proud of their culture while distinguishing cultural pride from tribalism. She highlighted the Horokhoes traditional dress and encouraged young women to invest in their confidence and self-esteem.
5 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Former first lady Monica Geingos told graduates of the Îsabedi Cultural Training Programme to be proud of their culture while distinguishing cultural pride from tribalism. She highlighted the Horokhoes traditional dress and encouraged young women to invest in their confidence and self-esteem.
5 July 2026 · The Namibian →
South African brand Lil-Lets donated 6,000 sanitary pad packs and five menstrual corners to the One Economy Foundation and partner organisations including Girl Up Namibia, Havana Charity Work Foundation, Lidar Foundation, and the Zambezi Girl Child Foundation to support menstrual health initiatives in Namibia. The donation is part of a partnership aimed at improving access to menstrual hygiene products, promoting awareness, and addressing stigma surrounding menstruation.
15 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Former First Lady Monica Geingos has been appointed as an Advisor to Club de Madrid, a global forum of more than 130 democratic former Presidents and Prime Ministers from over 70 countries. Geingos brings experience in law, finance, public health, and youth development, and founded the One Economy Foundation and chairs the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development.
12 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Former first lady Monica Geingos told fellows in the 2026 One Economy Foundation Media Fellowship Programme that journalism should be understood as a gradual process of shaping perspectives through consistent and accurate reporting rather than expecting instant change, and that storytelling must account for lived experiences, trauma and social context.
11 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Former First Lady Monica Geingos has been appointed Board Chair of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH), the world's largest alliance focused on the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents. She succeeds former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, whose tenure ends in November 2026.
16 May 2026 · Informanté →
Monica Geingos has been appointed board chair of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, the world's largest alliance focused on maternal, newborn and child health, succeeding former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark when her term ends in November 2026. The alliance, hosted by the WHO in Geneva, brings together nearly 1,500 partner organisations working on maternal, child and adolescent health.
15 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Cabinet has decided to reduce Monica Geingos' staff from seven to three and state vehicles from three to two, effective 1 June, aligning her benefits with those of former first lady Kovambo Nujoma. Some of the dismissed staff members have reportedly approached the labour commissioner alleging unfair dismissal and unfair labour practices.
14 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The Cabinet has reduced the benefits of former first lady Monica Geingos, limiting her to three household staff members and two state-sponsored vehicles effective 1 June, down from her current seven employees. The new policy applies to former first ladies whose husbands die before them, but does not affect founding first lady Kovambo Nujoma.
12 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Monica Geingos of One Economy Foundation says unresolved childhood trauma and mental health challenges continue to fuel gender-based violence and other social problems in Namibia, and that intervention and timely support for young people is important because it is easier to fix broken children than broken adults. Research conducted by the foundation in nine correctional facilities found that lack of love and unresolved mental health issues in homes are drivers of gender-based violence.
11 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Former Kunene governor Marius Sheya has revealed he was warned to distance himself from Swapo parliamentarian James Uerikua during the party's 2024 electoral college to avoid losing votes. Speaking at Uerikua's memorial service, Sheya reflected on their enduring friendship and how he eventually informed Uerikua of the warning while protecting the source, emphasizing the rarity of loyalty in politics.
13 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Hundreds gathered in Otjozondjupa to pay respects to former governor and National Assembly member James Unomasa Uerikua, who died in a car accident over Easter weekend along with his 14-year-old son, Venturo. Former First Lady Monica Geingos and fellow leaders praised his legacy as a visionary who championed agriculture, infrastructure, and youth empowerment.
13 April 2026 · New Era →
Monica Geingos was conferred with an honorary doctorate from the University of Johannesburg in recognition of her leadership and advocacy for social development across Africa. She dedicated the honour to her late husband, President Hage Geingob, saying it fulfills a promise to pursue her own PhD as they had planned together.
18 March 2026 · New Era →
Monica Geingos received an Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Johannesburg in recognition of her work in social development, youth empowerment, and gender equity across Africa. The honour acknowledges her two decades in financial and investment sectors, her roles as founder of the One Economy Foundation and #BeFree Movement Project, and her service as UNAIDS Special Advocate and President of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development.
18 March 2026 · Informanté →
Former first lady Monica Geingos has received an honorary doctorate from the University of Johannesburg but says she will not use the title until she completes her own PhD, following her late husband Hage Geingob's belief that such honours should be earned rather than conferred.
17 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian argues that Namibia's practice of awarding mansions worth millions to retiring presidents — including cases where former presidents received both cash payouts and homes — is indefensible when 36.9% of citizens are unemployed and thousands face hunger. The editorial calls on President Nandi-Ndaitwah to end the scheme, citing examples from Sri Lanka, Cyprus, and France where governments have moved to curtail such perks.
21 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Former Botswana president Mokgweetsi Masisi delivered a public lecture at the University of Namibia, highlighting Botswana's role in supporting Namibia's liberation struggle and sheltering genocide victims, while also formally apologizing for killings of Namibian fishermen by the Botswana Defence Force during past border disputes. He emphasized that the two countries have since strengthened bilateral relations through higher-level cooperation platforms and a formalised bi-national commission covering politics, trade, and defence.
11 February 2026 · New Era →
At a Heroes' Acre remembrance ceremony, Geingob's daughter Nangula Geingos honoured her late father, noting he believed reading was essential for better leadership and making informed decisions. Attendees, including President Nandi-Ndaitwah and Geingob's widow, described him and Sam Nujoma as pillars of unity and founding giants who shaped Namibia's constitution and democratic institutions.
9 February 2026 · The Namibian →
A New Era editorial marks the second anniversary of former president Hage Geingob's death, reflecting on his leadership through economic crises, drought, and the Covid-19 pandemic. The piece urges Namibians to honour his legacy by sustaining the foundations he built, including the Harambee prosperity plans and frameworks for unity, resilience and democracy.
6 February 2026 · New Era →
Former first lady Monica Geingos has stated that the legacy of late president Hage Geingob does not belong to any individual but to the entire nation, emphasising that Namibians can learn from both his successes and struggles. A combined candlelight ceremony honouring Geingob and Founding President Sam Nujoma is to be held at Heroes Acre on Saturday.
5 February 2026 · New Era →
A small, intimate ceremony was held at Heroes' Acre to remember the late Dr Hage Geingob, Namibia's first prime minister and third president, alongside his widow Monica Geingos and other family members, former leaders, and dignitaries.
5 February 2026 · Informanté →
The Dr Hage Geingob Fellows was launched through the Inter-Generational Leadership Accelerator programme during the inauguration of the Leadership Lab Yetu in Kigali, Rwanda, on Saturday. The initiative, honouring the legacy of the late former president, includes Cabinet ministers, mayors and civil society leaders from across Africa and establishes Yetu as a Pan-African hub to bridge gaps between emerging and established leaders.
2 February 2026 · New Era →
Former first lady Monica Geingos, speaking at the Leadership Lab Yetu launch in Rwanda, urged African leadership programmes to stop sending talent outside the continent, warning that reliance on external donors and venues threatens sustainability and development. She called for stronger institutional systems to absorb and deploy emerging leaders, particularly from marginalised groups, and emphasised that Africa has leaders but lacks effective structures to nurture and deploy them.
1 February 2026 · The Namibian →