Namibia’s young people have been urged to take the lead in shaping the country’s green hydrogen ambitions, as the first cohort of Green Hydrogen Youth Ambassadors received their certificates in Windhoek on Friday.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Hyphen Hydrogen Energy chief executive officer, Marco Raffinetti, said Namibia’s green hydrogen strategy is bold and unprecedented, requiring resilience and commitment. He told the youth they have a unique responsibility to inspire trust and educate communities about the opportunities in renewable energy.
“Every change in technology is met with skepticism, but the talent in this room proves Namibia can succeed. When you return to your regions, remember everything seems impossible until it’s done,” he said.
The head of the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme, James Mnyupe, described the initiative as an extraordinary opportunity for the country’s youth to shape global conversations on energy. He highlighted that Namibia’s progressive policies have already attracted international attention, and the ambassadors will gain first-hand exposure at the upcoming Green Hydrogen Summit.
“You are not just participants – you are multipliers of knowledge. Our responsibility is to democratise what we have learnt and share it with every community across Namibia,” he said.
Adding to his remarks, Joseph Mukendwa, head of policy, planning and strategy at the Green Hydrogen Programme, emphasised that young people are already making a mark within the sector, from drafting policy to developing investment proposals.
“Opportunities are plenty, but they require commitment and delivery. Do not wait for doors to open – step up, show up and walk the journey with us,” he said.
The programme, implemented by the Namibian government in collaboration with GIZ and Hyphen, aims to train young leaders from all 14 regions as champions for Namibia’s transition to clean energy. During the ceremony, the ambassadors shared reflections on their weeks of training and expressed hope the project will create jobs, deliver affordable energy and uplift local communities.
-Nampa