Wilhelmina Iimene
In less than three weeks, youth from 11 countries on this continent will converge at The Dome in Swakopmund to compete in WorldSkills Africa.
WorldSkills Africa is part of the global movement, WorldSkills International, which seeks to raise the profile and recognition of skilled people, and show how important skills are in achieving economic growth and personal success.
This year, Namibia, through the Namibia Training Authority, has been bestowed the privilege to host the second edition of the competition, following the inaugural event staged in Kigali, Rwanda in 2018.
Petenen Nankela, a final-year engineering student at NUST, is part of 13 Namibians preparing to represent the country in the competition.
He will be competing in the mechanical engineering Computer Aided Design (CAD) competition of WorldSkills Africa from 28 March to 2 April 2022.
The young engineer told Youth Corner that although nervous, he is ready for the competition.
“Being part of the team has been a wholesome experience. I am nervous and excited to face five other countries, but we had a workshop with the team in November, and we were encouraged to be fearless, to remain prayed-up and confident. I have no doubt I will be victorious,” Nankela said.
He applauded the NTA for organising such an event that uplifts the youth and encouraged his peers to take such opportunities seriously.
Nankela hopes to see the youth present during the competition, because “it can be a platform to connect and network with different artisans and experts from different countries and companies”.
This year, the competition has registered 11 countries with about 100 competitors to take part in 16 different skill areas.
The objective of the skills competition is to ensure that it addresses the actual social challenges faced in Africa.
Skills areas
These are construction and building technology, which consist of refrigeration and air-conditioning, electrical installations, joinery, plumbing and heating, bricklaying, wall and floor tiling, and water technology.
The manufacturing and engineering technology areas consist of mechanical engineering CAD, welding, and mechatronics.
The information and communication area consist of web technologies.
Social and personal services will have restaurant services, hairdressing and cooking.
The creative arts and fashion skills area will have fashion technology, while the transportation and logistics area will have competitors competing in automobile technology.
Namibian competitors
The 13 competitors were selected during the national competition in 2019 for WorldSkills Africa that was initially scheduled to take place in 2020. The Covid-19 outbreak that year, forced it to be rescheduled to this year.
They are Nankela (mechanical engineering (CAD), Mwandingi Fillipus (automobile technology), Morenga Gerry (bricklaying), Elizabeth Isai (cooking), Antonio Hilzebecher (electrical installations), Petrina Iipinge (fashion technology), Andrea Rooinasie (hairdressing), PendaPala Hailundu (joinery), Jaihran Uirab (plumbing and heating), Hofni Sakaria (refrigeration and air conditioning), Lifani Sinvula (wall and floor tiling), Muhamubi Reyeen Sizuka (water technology), and Asser Iipinge (welding).
Experts
Namibia will also have nine experts involved in the skills areas. They act as supervisors to mentor and sharpen the skills of competitors during the period they are preparing for the main competition. The experts will also be present during the competition to assist or guide the c
ompetitors.
Valitel Ndemwiimba is an expert in the mechatronics skills area, which is about automation. He explained that competitors in this skill will have to assemble and commission a mini production line, such as those found in industries like mining, food and drinks, amongst others.
The self-taught mechatronics expert told Youth Corner that it has been a very difficult journey for his skills area, specifically because they do not have mechatronics equipment in Namibia, which is why they are currently based in South Africa for preparations and training.
“The competitors have learned a lot during the preparations. Although we lack equipment, I have faith in my competitors, we will make it work. We are spending sleepless nights here in South Africa, but we cannot even complain because we are doing this for our country’s TVET (Technical and Vocational Education Training) sector,” he said.
Preparations are on track and organisers have urged everyone to join them as they build skills for Africa.
WorldSkillsAfrica 2022 Project Manager, Sens Shoolongo was quoted as saying the skills competition component aims to inspire the African youth to pursue personal and economic-fulfilling careers.
“In the skills exhibition, a number of local and international businesses, training providers and individuals will showcase their work to the public and engage them on the spot.”
Components
The entire event will essentially consist of three components: a skills competition, a TVET conference, and a career exhibition. In addition, WorldSkills Africa is calling on anyone that is interested in exhibiting strictly TVET-related products or services during the competition to register for a stand through their website. The closing date is 15 March 2022.
This will be a continental showpiece, and competitors will be giving it their best to qualify for the international event, which will be hosted in Shanghai, China in October 2022.
WorldSkills Africa is a biennial event supported by WorldSkills International and the African Union. – imenewilly@gmail.com