The Namibia National Internship Programme (NNIP) has benefited 760 students to date, according to the latest figures shared.
The NNIP was launched in 2019 with the aim of assisting students who require internships to graduate while helping institutions of higher learning find internship placements for students, subsequently accelerating job creation among the youth.
To drive the growth of the initiative, Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) has now nationalized the program and encouraged other corporates to support it, with Old Mutual Namibia being the latest to commit N$300,000.
Commending Old Mutual’s goodwill towards the programme, MTC’s Chief Human Capital, Corporate Affairs, and Marketing Officer, Tim Ekandjo, praised the insurance giant for the move.
“When addressing a national matter, desired results are easily attained through collaborative approaches, hence our appreciation and applause to Old Mutual Namibia for heading and responding favorably to a standing call for corporates in Namibia (public and private) to join hands in upscaling the programme into a national vehicle that drives and offers students with WIL opportunities,” he said.
Old Mutual Namibia Group Marketing, Public Affairs, and Sustainability Executive, Mignon du Preez, said the sponsorship demonstrates the company’s commitment to empowering the youth.
“Being a young person in today’s job market can be tough, and that’s why Old Mutual Namibia is proud to support the Namibia National Internship Programme. We believe that by investing in the professional development of young talent, we are not just helping them secure a brighter future, but we’re also contributing towards building a stronger Namibia. Our sponsorship demonstrates our commitment to empowering the youth and fostering a culture of excellence, which aligns with our values as a company,” she said.
MTC commits N$2 million annually to the programme, while earlier this year, Standard Bank Namibia pledged N$200,000. Through smart collaboration, the programme is earmarked to raise at least N$14 million yearly – an amount that will considerably upscale the programme’s intake capacity from 160 to 1,600 students yearly.
Per annum, the country is reported to have over 48,000 students nationally who require Work Integrated Learning (WIL) to graduate.
