Nangula Nelulu Uaandja

Nangula Nelulu Uaandja is a Namibian chartered accountant. She is the Chief Executive Director for the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB).^[1] Uaandja became Namibia's first black female chartered accountant in 1998.^[2] In 2022, she has been named one the 100 most influential African Women by Avance Media.^[3]

Uaandja was born in Etomba in the Ohangwena region.^[2] From 1988 to 1992 Uaandja attended high school in Sierra Leone. Upon her return to Namibia in the early 1990s, Nangula enrolled at the University of Namibia (UNAM) to do a Bachelor of Commerce.^[4] She graduated from UNAM in 1996 and enrolled for an honours degree with the University of South Africa (Unisa) in 1997.^[2] In 1998 she completed her final chartered accounting qualifying exams.^[4]

Uaandja was appointed Chief Executive Director of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) by president Hage Geingob. She has also been involved in non-audit work such as consulting, fraud investigation, and budgetary processes.^[4] Uaandja served in various roles on accounting and auditing professional bodies such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Public Accountants and Auditors Board. She also served as a member of the Tax Court Appeal and was appointed as a member of the first Public Office Bearers’ Remuneration and Benefits Committee by president Hifikepunye Pohamba from 2006 to 2009.^[4]