NUST student receives food trailer after winning Nedbank Kapana Cook-off Competition.

28 October 2024 October marked a proud moment for 20-year-old Mandume Hasheni, who took ownership of the grand prize of a fully furnished food trailer worth N$130 000 after winning the 2024 Nedbank Kapana Cook-off Competition, held 2 months ago.

This Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) student, who impressed judges with his unique kapana cooking skills, stood beaming as he received the keys to the trailer in a special handover ceremony at his residence in Ombili, Windhoek. Hasheni, balancing academics and serving kapana at Single Quarters, an open-market area in Windhoek, expressed his excitement and gratitude for the opportunity.

'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,' said Hasheni.

The Nedbank 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 - they also receive a cash injection of N$10 000 in a Nedbank account, as well as access to an SME training programme from Agra ProVision worth N$6 000 and a N$5 000 Bakpro vetkoek voucher.

Nedbank has long believed that investing in the next generation is key to building strong communities and economies, and this initiative exemplifies that commitment. Selma Kaulinge, Communications and Public Relations Manager at Nedbank Namibia noted the importance of such competitions. 'As money experts who do good, seeing young people like Mandume 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’re helping to create instant businesspeople who can immediately contribute to the economy and make a difference in their lives,' Kaulinge says.

Since winning, Hasheni has been scouting for a suitable location to set up the trailer and get extra hands to kick-start his operations. This balancing of school and business exemplifies the resilience and determination that the competition seeks to foster in future leaders.