President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on government institutions and the private sector to urgently convert existing training budgets into structured internship and apprenticeship opportunities.
She warned that Namibia’s growing number of graduates must not end up without work experience.
She made the remarks yesterday at the University of Namibia (Unam) graduation ceremony in Windhoek, where hundreds of students were awarded certificates, diplomas and degrees in various fields.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia must urgently link education output to practical job exposure.
“I have been in the system since day one, and I know every ministry has a budget line for training. The people you are employing already have the necessary skills, but upgrading is necessary. Therefore, share this budget and bring in new graduates so that they become employable,” the President said.
She added that government ministries, agencies and offices must use their existing training allocations to create structured internship and apprenticeship programmes for graduates instead of only training already-employed staff.
She said this shift would help solve one of Namibia’s long-standing challenges – graduates who leave university without work experience.The President also called on the private sector to support the initiative, saying government alone cannot absorb all graduates into the system.
“We have called upon the private sector to join hands with government. Some have already responded positively. To attract more participation, there will be incentives such as tax relief so that graduates can gain experience at work,” she said. She stressed that internships should not be seen as charity, but as a national investment in productivity and future growth.
The President linked the proposal to Namibia’s broader economic plans under the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), which focuses on industrialisation, job creation and economic diversification.
“Soon, Namibia will be one of the oil-producing countries. We are also positioning ourselves in green energy, green hydrogen and value addition to our rare earth minerals. We will need qualified Namibians in all these sectors,” she said. She warned that universities must respond quickly to labour market demands or risk producing graduates whose skills do not match national needs.
“It is critical that our institutions of higher learning must not be found wanting. Training in these fields must start today – if it has not already started yesterday,” she said.
The President said education remains central to government development plans and continues to receive the largest share of the national budget. “Education is a co-investment in economic growth, social equality and national development. The future of our country lies in the hands of our young people, who must be properly trained to address inequality, unemployment and poverty,” she said.
She also introduced a strong argument on the value of skills at all levels of work, saying even low-skilled jobs must be professionalised.
“When you are skilled, even if you are a cleaner, you will understand why you use one chemical and not another. If you are not skilled, that can be a risk to the institution and even your household,” she said.
One of the key themes in her address was that Namibia must move away from separating “skilled” and “unskilled” labour, and instead ensure that all workers are trained according to standards.
The President also praised Unam’s growth since its establishment in 1992 when it had 3 639 students, compared to over 30 000 today.
She highlighted the university’s international standing, noting its ranking in 2024 by Times Higher Education as 24th in Africa and 13th in Sub-Saharan Africa.
She commended the university’s leadership and academic staff for their role in developing Namibia’s human capital. She paid tribute to education pioneers who helped build the system after independence.
As graduates prepare to enter the labour market, the President urged them not to wait passively for jobs, but to become innovators and job creators.“Do not only seek employment opportunities. Become entrepreneurs and creators of jobs. Go beyond Namibia if opportunities arise, and bring back knowledge to your country,” she said.
She concluded by reminding graduates that education is not for personal status but for national service.“You know better now, you should do better now, and you must be better now,” she said.
Unam Vice Chancellor Prof. Kenneth Matengu said the first-year enrolment has more than doubled, rising from just over 5 000 students to over 11 000 in 2026.
This is the highest intake since the university was established in 1992.
He said the increase is largely driven by the government’s Subsidised Tertiary Education and Training Funding Model, which has expanded access for students who previously could not afford higher education.
“This policy has allowed many more Namibians to enter university education,” Matengu said.
He noted that the institution now serves more than 30 000 students overall, including international learners. Speaking at the same event was Unam Chancellor Nangolo Mbumba, who urged graduates to use their skills to shape Namibia’s future. He encouraged them to remain optimistic, embrace communication and technology, and stay innovative despite global geopolitical and economic challenges.
In a separate highlight of the ceremony, Unam also honoured veteran educationist and Swapo member Nahas Angula, who was conferred an honorary doctorate in education in recognition of his long-standing contribution to the country’s education system before and after independence.
The award was widely seen as recognition of his role in shaping the education policy and expanding access during the liberation and post-independence period.