Proposes engineering innovation fund
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has raised concerns over the shortage and high turnover of engineers in Namibia’s public service, warning that the country needs qualified technical professionals to plan, develop and maintain critical infrastructure.
Speaking at the inaugural Namibia Engineering Excellence Awards in Windhoek, Nandi-Ndaitwah called for measures to attract and retain engineering professionals in government as the country pursues major infrastructure and industrial development programmes.
“The shortage and high turnover of engineering professionals in Government must concern us all,” she said.
The President said Namibia’s infrastructure development ambitions required more than construction expertise, stressing the importance of strengthening the government’s technical capacity to manage public assets.
“Effective infrastructure development requires not only the ability to construct, but also the institutional capacity to plan, regulate, maintain and manage our national assets,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said engineering expertise would be critical to implementing the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), particularly in infrastructure development, industrialisation, housing, agriculture and manufacturing.
She warned that the country’s development priorities could not be achieved through policy commitments alone.
“Those priorities cannot be achieved through policy statements alone. They require practical engineering solutions that strengthen infrastructure, unlock productive potential, advance industrialisation and create sustainable value chains,” she said.
The President called for stronger cooperation between government, universities, technical institutions, professional bodies and the private sector to address engineering skills requirements.
She said engineering students needed greater access to scholarships, bursaries, internships, apprenticeships, mentorship and practical training to prepare them for employment.
Nandi-Ndaitwah also urged companies operating in mining, energy, oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, water and transport to increase investment in engineering education, research and skills transfer.
As part of efforts to strengthen the country’s engineering capacity, she proposed exploring the establishment of a National Engineering Education and Innovation Fund.
The proposed fund would be supported through public and private sector contributions to assist engineering students and provide loan-based seed capital to young engineers developing locally produced technologies and businesses.
“We should also explore the establishment of a National Engineering Education and Innovation Fund, supported through public and private partnership contributions, to assist talented young Namibians pursuing engineering studies and to provide seed capital for young engineers seeking to commercialise locally developed technologies and establish innovative enterprises on a loan basis,” she said.
The President said Namibia should develop engineers capable of establishing businesses, creating technologies and generating employment rather than focusing exclusively on producing graduates seeking jobs.
She also identified engineering innovation as central to the government’s target of delivering 50,000 houses by 2030.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said technologies such as prefabricated housing could accelerate construction and improve affordability, provided that safety and quality standards were maintained.
She called on engineers, construction companies, investors and financial institutions to develop practical housing solutions, acknowledging that the government could not meet its housing target alone.
In agriculture, the President urged engineers to develop technologies and infrastructure that would expand production, support agro-processing and reduce dependence on imported goods.
She said Namibia needed to use its natural resources to develop productive industries, create employment and generate greater economic value.
“It must be underscored that, we must move from being a resource-rich country to becoming a resource-transforming economy,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah also called for stronger Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to develop technicians and artisans for construction, manufacturing, mining, agriculture, renewable energy and other industries.
On professional accountability, she warned engineers against compromising construction standards in pursuit of profit, convenience or faster project completion.
“Never allow the pursuit of profit, convenience, or speed to come at the expense of human safety,” she said.
The President urged the Engineering Council of Namibia to maintain strict professional standards and ensure that engineering projects meet safety and quality requirements.
