Shiwana Ndeunyema nominated for Africa’s top 100 most influential Africans in infrastructure
Namibian energy and business executive Shiwana Ndeunyema has been nominated for Powered By Africa’s 2026 Top 100 Most Influential Africans in Infrastructure, reflecting a career increasingly positioned at the intersection of energy, strategic infrastructure, institutional leadership, national policy and Africa’s industrialisation agenda.
The nomination recognises Ndeunyema primarily within the Energy & Power sector, with Ports & Maritime identified as an additional area of impact.
His profile is particularly relevant as Namibia emerges as a significant new oil and gas frontier, increasing the importance of strong national institutions, energy infrastructure, ports and logistics, investment mobilisation and local participation in ensuring that natural-resource discoveries translate into sustainable economic development.
Ndeunyema has more than 15 years of professional experience, including seven years in executive leadership across energy, ports and logistics, telecommunications, public institutions and strategic advisory work.
A significant part of the nomination relates to his leadership at the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR), including his 10-month tenure as Interim Managing Director during one of the corporation’s most challenging periods.
His tenure coincided with major offshore oil discoveries and heightened international investor interest in Namibia.
During this period, Ndeunyema engaged government, international oil companies, financial institutions and other strategic stakeholders, while supporting institutional stability and maintaining focus on NAMCOR’s strategic role in Namibia’s developing petroleum industry.
His contribution also included leading the development of NAMCOR’s turnaround strategy and supporting the mobilisation of funding for its implementation, work that received formal recognition from the corporation’s Board.
The nomination also recognises his contribution beyond NAMCOR.
As a Board Member of the Namibia Ports Authority, Ndeunyema contributes to the governance of infrastructure that is becoming increasingly important to Namibia’s offshore energy activities, regional logistics, trade corridors and wider industrial development.
His broader governance experience includes previous service on the boards and governing structures of Telecom Namibia, the Namibia University of Science and Technology and Meatco.
The combination of energy and maritime infrastructure closely reflects the broader philosophy underpinning Powered By Africa’s Infrastructure 100.
Powered By Africa founder and Campaign Director Samuel Kasumu has emphasised that infrastructure should ultimately be understood in terms of the opportunities it creates for people and economies.
“Infrastructure is ultimately about people. Every road, port, bridge, power network, digital connection and logistics corridor creates opportunities,” Kasumu said.
Kasumu said such infrastructure enables businesses to grow, communities to prosper and African countries to compete globally, while the Infrastructure 100 seeks to celebrate individuals helping to build the foundations of Africa’s next chapter.
That philosophy also aligns with Ndeunyema’s advocacy around Namibia’s emerging oil and gas industry.
He has consistently emphasised that the significance of natural-resource discoveries should extend beyond investment and production to building local industries, developing skills, strengthening institutions and creating meaningful economic participation for local businesses, professionals and young people.
The nomination further reflects his contribution to national policy and institutional development.
Ndeunyema was appointed to the SWAPO Party Think Tank as a sector expert on natural resources, contributing to strategic thinking around oil and gas, natural resources and economic development.
His advisory work has included serving as Lead Consultant in the development of Namibia’s Public Enterprise Ownership Policy, as well as leading and contributing to the development of long-term strategic plans for national institutions.
He has also contributed to national and international discourse on energy, local content, governance, investment, youth participation, skills development and industrialisation.
Commenting on the nomination, Ndeunyema said Africa’s infrastructure development must ultimately translate into broader economic opportunity.
“I am deeply honoured by the nomination. Africa’s infrastructure story must ultimately be about connecting our resources to our people and our economies. Infrastructure connects energy to industry, ports to markets, businesses to opportunities and countries to one another.
For countries such as Namibia, the opportunity before us is not simply to develop oil, gas, ports and other infrastructure, but to use these investments to build local capabilities, strengthen our institutions, develop African businesses and skills, and create sustainable economic opportunities for future generations.”
Powered By Africa says the Infrastructure 100 recognises leaders contributing to Africa’s development through policy, investment, engineering, innovation, financing, governance, public service and infrastructure delivery.
The final Top 100 Most Influential Africans in Infrastructure list is scheduled to be announced in September 2026, with those recognised invited to participate in a high-level international delegation in Accra, Ghana, from 17 to 21 November 2026.
The programme will include the Powered By Africa Infrastructure and Investment Conference on 19 November, followed by the Powered By Africa Gala on 20 November, coinciding with United Nations Africa Industrialization Day.
