By: Peneyambeko Jonas
Skills development and youth programmes are being placed at the centre of efforts to improve employment and economic participation.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says Namibia needs a stronger technical and vocational skills base as the economy moves into sectors such as green hydrogen, oil and gas, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing and digital technology.
Speaking at the official send-off of Team Namibia to the WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai on Monday, the President said technical and vocational education and training (TVET) must support the country’s economic transformation.
“TVET is not a backup plan, but rather an important key to our economic transformation,” Nandi-Ndaitwah told the 17 competitors representing Namibia at the 48th WorldSkills Competition.
The competition will bring together more than 1,400 competitors from over 70 countries and regions across 64 skills from 22 to 27 September.
The President said Namibia must regularly conduct skills audits and labour-market analyses to identify shortages and ensure that training matches the needs of the economy.
This comes as Namibia continues to face a major employment challenge and skill mismatch issues.
The Namibia Statistics Agency reported that youth unemployment stood at about 44.1% in 2023, while the combined rate of youth unemployment and potential labour force reached 61.4%.
Nandi-Ndaitwah urged the WorldSkills competitors to return with knowledge that can be transferred to other young Namibians.
“When they watch you step onto that stage in Shanghai, let them see the possibility,” she said, arguing that technical skills can help young people build businesses, create jobs, drive innovation and support industries.
At the same time, Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Sanet Steenkamp has placed pressure on the newly inaugurated National Youth Service Board to show measurable economic results.
Steenkamp said the National Youth Service must look beyond the number of young people recruited or trained and examine what happens after training.
“How many young people progress to further education? How many obtain employment or establish sustainable livelihoods? What skills have they acquired?” she asked.
The minister also disclosed that about 18,000 young people applied for the 17th Recruit Intake of 2026, showing the level of demand for youth development opportunities.
The National Youth Service Act requires the Service to provide young people with opportunities for further studies and training, improve employment opportunities and contribute to Namibia’s socio-economic development.
Steenkamp said the new Board must also improve the management of Service assets and enterprises. She called for sound financial management, transparent procurement, proper risk management and accurate reporting.
The Namibia Training Authority has also linked cooperation with the National Youth Service to employment outcomes.
NTA chief executive Erick Fundula Nenghwanya said public institutions must work together because such partnerships can “bridge the gap between training and employment”, while helping young people become employed or self-employed.
NYS Commissioner Felix Musukubili said the cooperation between the two institutions demonstrates a shared commitment to skills training aligned with Namibia’s economic growth priorities.
The National Youth Service currently has about 400 trainees in occupations including agriculture, livestock, farm machinery, construction, plumbing, metal fabrication, hospitality and clothing production.
The economic test for both TVET and the National Youth Service will therefore not only be how many young people enter their programmes. It will be whether those young people leave with skills that can translate into employment, businesses, higher productivity and stronger local industries.
