EENHANA – The Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service Erastus Uutoni has reiterated his call to the youth to establish youth enterprises in their respective constituencies.
Uutoni feels such an endeavour will create employment for unemployed youth and thereby reduce the high poverty and record unemployment among Namibian youth.
Speaking at an engagement with the youth at Eenhana on Monday, Uutoni said Namibia and Ohangwena in particular have a lot of job opportunities waiting to be unlocked.
He urged vocational graduates to spearhead the process and ensure they put their acquired skills to practical use.
Speaking fondly on some of the opportunities the youth can venture into, Uutoni said the youth can assist government to alleviate the plight of sanitation by putting up sanitation facilities in locations currently without such facilities.
“We do not want to employ people from outside, we want to utilise your skills and as a ministry we are ready for your proposals,” Uutoni stressed.
Uutoni said the ministry of youth has a mandate to establish one enterprise in every constituency that will equate to 121 youth enterprises countrywide.
He also expressed dismay over the youths’ unwillingness to utilise projects that are aimed at uplifting their lives.
“It is disappointing to note that a project that the regional council has invested so much money into was abandoned; that project could have been the economic hub for the region,” Uutoni said.
One such project is the Onehanga Youth Project, which became defunct after being operational for five months.
The project which was already fenced off and had water boreholes installed was aimed at producing vegetables and fruits which could be sold to the community.
The technical steering committee last year pulled the plug on the operations of the N$5 million project after allegations of mismanagement of funds surfaced.
Uutoni urged the youth to desist from social ills such as joining fake churches that drain them of their little income, and insulting elders through social media.
He advised the youth to turn to solving their problems amicably and to learn to seek clarity without slandering.