SWAKOPMUND - Erongo governor Neville Andre has urged young people in the region to apply for the Youth for Green Hydrogen (Y4H2) scholarship programme for 2024.
This region has been identified as one of the preferred regions for applicants to take part in this scholarship. Andre made the appeal during a press conference held in Swakopmund last week. He said the prospects of green hydrogen and its economic potential hold enormous promise. “The future of Namibia is promising, and we as citizens must rise to the opportunities our country is offering. Namibia’s ambitions of becoming the leading exporter of Green Hydrogen on the African continent and helping the world achieve its quest for net-zero or low carbon emissions are fast becoming a reality. Namibia will soon be a producer of clean, reliable and affordable energy for Africa and the world at large,” he stated.
Andre noted that the Erongo region, with its abundant natural resources such as wind and solar energy, is fortunate to benefit from the green hydrogen projects available. “We are happy to note that very soon, we will witness the groundbreaking of more major green hydrogen projects in the Erongo region. But we need a more skilled workforce to ensure that we take part in the full value chain that green hydrogen is offering,” the governor said.
Namibia, with its abundant renewable energy resources, has become an early entrant in the market. Namibia and the German government in 2021 signed an agreement which availed grant funding towards the development of the Green Hydrogen industry in Namibia. One of the key priority areas was capacity- building, whereby over N$100 million was allocated for scholarships to Namibian youths.
As such, Y4GH as a fully funded scholarship programme in collaboration with the German government has been established. The Namibian government has since opened a scholarship call for master’s degree, Technical, Vocational Education, and Training (TVET) applications for Namibian youth. The scholarship is open to Namibians between ages 18 and 35. The master’s degree should focus on disciplines such as applied science, renewable energy/sustainable energy systems, logistics and supply chain management. The TVET courses should focuson trades such as boilermaking, bricklaying, plastering, plumbing and pipe-fitting, welding and metal fabrication, solar and wind energy system installation and maintenance, as well as business services.
The scholarship will provide up to N$500 000 for a master’s degree, and up to N$200 000 for a TVET diploma or certificate for the full duration of the study. Applications can be done online, or hard copies can be submitted at the governor’s office, all constituency offices, settlement offices and traditional authorities. The governor furthermore indicated that his office, in collaboration with the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management, will soon have a regional outreach workshop to offer a breakdown of the scholarship.
Also speaking at the briefing was Swakopmund mayor Dina Namubes, who felt the scholarships are a great opportunity for the town’s youth who are struggling with unemployment. “Our young people have been waiting for such opportunities, and this particular programme can accommodate quite a number of young people. We really appreciate this opportunity, and hope our youth will take advantage of it,” she added. Meanwhile, Arandis mayor Risto Kapenda said his town will benefit greatly from the initiative. Arandis is home to the country’s flagship vocational institution, the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT). “NIMT can surely make use of this opportunity and contribute further to the town and country’s development. We will definitely engage with them further, and assist so that they cease this opportunity,” Kapenda said.
- edeklerk@nepc.com.na