Namibia’s Higher Education, Technology, and Innovation Minister Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi says the country should invest in research and development to drive innovation in the emerging green energy and new oil and natural gas sectors.
Dr Kandjii-Murangi says the global shift towards sustainable energy solutions offers immense opportunities for Namibia, particularly in the fields of green hydrogen, green ammonia, and biofuels.
“These sectors have the potential not only to diversify our energy portfolio but also to create new industries and job opportunities, contributing to our economic resilience. To this end, our academic institutions and research centres must prioritise the development of cutting-edge technologies and processes that will position Namibia as a leader in the production and export of these green energy sources.
“By fostering collaborations between government, industry, and academia, we can ensure that the necessary knowledge, skills, and infrastructure are in place to support the growth of these crucial industries,” Dr Kandjii-Murangi says.
The Minister expressed optimism over moves by the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the Namibia Training Authority (NTA) to develop Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs that aim to build skills for the emerging industries.
The said the Higher Education Ministry’s priority is to develop a workforce with suitable knowledge and skills to succeed within the new industries.
“This includes more investment in technical and vocational education skills and quality apprenticeships. Namibia’s focus is on responding to skills shortages, demonstrating innovative ways of delivering TVET skills and expertise, and investing in leading-edge TVET skills development,” she said.
Speaking at Eenhana Vocational Training Centre, in Ohangwena Region, Dr Kandjii-Murangi underscored the need to create and sustain the technical and vocational skills and expertise needed to grow Namibia’s economy.
“Ensuring that our industries are equipped with the right individuals, who possess the right skills and attributes to compete in the ever-evolving and emerging industry sectors that constitute our economy, is certainly not an easy task. It is a task that is exacerbated by the fact that, more often than not, the need for skills training in all sectors of our economy, exceeds the resources we have at our disposal,” she said.
The Minister commended Namibia’s European development partners for the sustained provision and support to the TVET sector.
“In this regard, I single out the Promotion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ProTVET) Project, which complements our development cooperation in the priority area of sustainable economic development and has as key objectives the rendering of support to key elements of the TVET system and the enhancement of overall industry participation,” said Dr Kandjii-Murangi.
“TVET gives us the tools for the future. TVET is the future. Therefore, gone are the days of simply talking about increased access to training and increased funding and inputs to support that increase. Our focus should now be on outcomes, effectiveness and enhanced access in generating more value from the resources available for TVET,” the Minister concluded.
