Paulina Ndalikokule
Ndamona Jafeth
NKURENKURU – Deputy youth minister Dino Ballotti has urged young people in Nkurenkuru to move away from dependence on government employment and instead embrace entrepreneurship.
He stressed that private sector activity is the backbone of thriving economies. Ballotti made these remarks on Friday during the handover of materials and equipment valued at N$2.5 million to 11 rural youth constituency enterprises from various regions in Nkurenkuru.
He highlighted the critical role that youth-led enterprises play in job creation and improving livelihoods.
In addition, he encouraged young people to approach business with commitment and confidence, regardless of how small they start.
“Make sure that everything you are doing as a businessperson is making money,” he advised.
Ballotti underscored the need for businesses to think beyond local markets. He encouraged young entrepreneurs to expand regionally and internationally, noting that limiting business ambitions to small geographic areas restricts growth potential.
“Your target market cannot only be 3 million Namibians. Are you hearing what I’m trying to say? What’s the population of Angola? 40 million, maybe a bit more. We need to emancipate our minds from believing that our customer is only the person that we can see. The customer must be the Southern African Development Community – 360 million potential customers. The customer must be from Namibia. It cannot only be Nkurenkuru or the region,” Ballotti said. The beneficiaries received equipment and materials to start businesses such as event management, detergent manufacturing, mini-markets, recycling and construction-related businesses.
One of the beneficiaries, Sirrku Kangayi, expressed gratitude to the government and the ministry.
She described the support as more than financial assistance.
“The loan is more than just capital. It is a vote of confidence that tells us, the youth, that our ideas matter and our country is willing to invest in its future leaders, which is us, the youth,” she said.
She added that their goal is to inspire and empower other youth enterprises in Kavango West and beyond.
The 11 enterprises form part of the Rural Youth Constituency Enterprise Programme, launched in 2015 under the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP I).
The initiative aims to empower young people through micro, small and medium enterprises, promote self-employment, improve access to finance and contribute to local economic development and poverty reduction.
The programme provides entrepreneurship training and support in accessing loans, as well as ongoing monitoring and evaluation.
All 121 rural youth constituency enterprises have been registered with the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (Bipa), with the ministry overseeing implementation.
The Development Bank of Namibia funds the programme, with an investment of N$8 million.
In 2021, a tripartite agreement between the ministry, the Development Bank of Namibia and Nantu Likwafela Cooperative was signed to support 28 selected enterprises, with two enterprises per region.
During the 2023/2024 financial year, 17 enterprises became operational, while the remaining 11 signed funding agreements in December 2025 and received funding earlier this year.
All 28 enterprises are now fully operational.
The programme continues to be implemented in partnership with the Nantu Likwafela Cooperative, with the Development Bank of Namibia serving as the financing partner.
*Paulina Ndalikokule and Ndamona Jafeth are information officers in the MICT in Kavango West.