Immanuel Natanael, a 21-year-old student from Valombola Vocational Training Center (VTC), won first place at the 2025 WorldSkills Namibia National Competition.
He received the President’s Award for his hard work and discipline.
His journey started with a strong passion for making and building things by hand.
He said that he trained very hard for the competition and was surprised and happy to win.
“All the other competitors were also very talented, so winning this award was a big surprise. Now, I train every day to get ready for the WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai in 2026. I want to make Namibia proud,” he said.
His love for building began when he was young. He enjoyed using his hands to create things. That interest grew stronger when he joined Valombola VTC to study bricklaying and plastering.
He believes bricklaying is more than just building walls.
“When I build, I see new ideas coming to life. It’s about creating something that helps people and brings change,” he said.
His late father remains his greatest source of inspiration, instilling in him the belief that skills are a gateway to independence and progress.
Encouraged by his instructors and mentors, he took part in the WorldSkills Namibia National Competition, where his dedication and discipline earned him the Prestigious President’s Award.
This milestone has fueled his dream to represent Namibia at the WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, 2026.
“When I enrolled in the National Skills Competition, I gave my very best in training, as did all the other talented competitors, so winning the President’s Award was an incredible surprise, he said.
Now, I am focused on sharpening my skills every day as I prepare to represent Namibia at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 proudly,” he added.
Natanael believes skills are essential for solving youth unemployment.
By learning trades like bricklaying, young people can create their own opportunities, promote innovation, and help sustainable development.
“I want to be part of the solution to the high unemployment rate in our country,” he said. “Through skills, we can build our communities, strengthen our country, and shape Africa’s future,” he added.
With the support of his family, trainers, and the TVET community, Natanael continues to build not only his own future, but that of a stronger, more skilled Namibia.
The National Skills Competition took place in Swakopmund in September 2025.
The first edition was held in September 2016, with 115 competitors from 26 vocational training institutions across the country, competing for prestige in 10 different occupational skill areas and for a spot in the WorldSkills Competition, which took place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) last year.
The second edition of the WorldSkills Competition (NSC2018) was in Russia and attracted over 150 competitors across 12 skill areas.