In a powerful address at yesterday’s 8th Erongo Regional Career Fair, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Natangwe Ithete, MP, challenged Namibian youth to harness technology and artificial intelligence (AI) for economic advancement, positioning themselves at the forefront of the nation’s development. Speaking to a packed audience at the Mabokke Soccer Stadium, the DPM, who emphasized his recent transition from youth to leadership, framed technological proficiency as critical for individual careers and national prosperity.
Minister Ithete declared that Namibia’s youth are “most blessed” to operate in an era of significant government support, including the landmark provision of free tertiary education commencing next year. He stressed, however, that opportunity demands responsibility. “We have a pro-youth government that makes budget provision for education and training,” he stated, urging young people to “make the most of the opportunities granted.”
The speech placed a laser focus on the transformative potential of technology beyond social media. “I want to submit to you today that there is more to technology and Artificial Intelligence than social media… use it to advance your careers through online studies, advertise your business and use artificial intelligence to write proposals and business plans,” the Minister urged. He argued that global economic shifts demand tech-savvy citizens, calling on youth to align their studies with market demands in programming, robotics, data, and civic-tech, fields where Namibia is investing heavily and opportunities abound.
Highlighting his Ministry’s role, DPM Ithete pointed to specific skills development programs like the Karibib cutting and polishing training and youth-targeted equipment schemes. He encouraged attendees to actively seek out government interventions, declaring, “These are your programme and opportunities therefore take them up.”
Beyond technical skills, the Minister linked economic success to patriotism and community investment. “Activate patriotism… through supporting local enterprise, investing in our community,” he advised, framing these actions as essential for national stability and resource protection. He also championed volunteering as a crucial pathway to gaining market-ready skills like communication and leadership, drawing from his own experience at the National Youth Council.
In a poignant shift, the DPM addressed the rising concern of male suicide, calling it an economic and societal imperative to break the silence around men’s mental health. “Let us collectively create safe spaces for boys to express concerns… True patriotism is caring for every citizen,” he asserted, linking societal well-being directly to productive human capital.
Concluding with a rallying cry for proactive economic engagement, Minister Ithete declared, “The future belongs to those that prepare for it today. Do something for the future you today! Study, learn a new skill, sell something, start a business… whatever you do, do not sit idle.” He then officially opened the Career Fair, a platform designed to connect Erongo’s youth with the very opportunities and pathways outlined in his economic vision for Namibia’s next generation.