President Nangolo Mbumba has called on graduates to leverage their acquired knowledge, skills, and values to contribute to the industrialisation of the Namibian economy.
He highlighted the country’s burgeoning green hydrogen sector and recent oil and gas discoveries, emphasising the need for a skilled workforce.
“Therefore, embrace these opportunities that lie ahead. You have been empowered to become agents of positive change in the 21st Century. Agents, who will drive Namibia’s development agenda to develop her resources for the benefit of all Namibian people. For that reason, go out there and seize the moment to become the architects of a united, peaceful and economically prosperous nation and people,” said Mbumba.
He made these remarks at the graduation ceremony of 159 graduands at the University of Namibia’s (UNAM) Southern Campus in the //Kharas Region. About 4,450 students across all campuses will be graduating during this phase.
“What you have achieved is beyond a certificate or a degree. You have acquired a passport to the future, a key of opportunity that will enable you to open doors that were closed to your forbearers. Therefore, your qualification from the University of Namibia should serve as a valuable asset in your future professional careers, and should enable you to competitively seize opportunities both nationally and internationally,” Mbumba stated.
The Head of State assured the nation that the government remains committed to the development and well-being of the youth nationally.
“Indeed, the government has lived up to the expectation of ensuring quality education for the youth to use as a tool to empower themselves to advance their lives. This can be attested through free primary and secondary education. While a majority of students at the tertiary level are supported through government scholarships and loans. Moreover, in Namibia education at all levels is widely available in all the 14 regions except for tertiary education which we are still busy rolling out as resources permit,” he said.
Namibia’s Vision 2030 blueprint stipulates that the country should be an industrialised nation with a high income by the year 2030.