Vice President Lucia Witbooi has emphasised the need for collaborations to create opportunities for National Youth Service recruits, as many are challenged and remain unemployed upon completion of training.

Witbooi was speaking at the official opening of the 16th intake of the National Youth Service at the Rietfontein Centre in the Otjozondjupa Region.

"Despite these efforts, it is important to acknowledge that approximately 4,000 National Youth Service graduates remained unemployed, highlighting the ongoing need for increased collaboration to create opportunities for National Youth Service recruits and address that the service is currently facilitating its database for submission to the government for consideration for various employment opportunities as committed in the Swapo Party manifesto."

Witbooi said the government has allocated N$257 million for the establishment of the National Youth Fund to support entrepreneurship startups, apprenticeships, and internships.

"It is therefore imperative that National Youth Service graduates are strategically positioned to fully benefit from these interventions, as they represent a key segment of our skilled and empowered youth cohort, most particularly those who graduated from the service skills training programs."

Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts, and Culture Deputy Minister Dino Balloti said the ministry is looking into requests to make national services mandatory in the school curriculum.

Balloti, however, said no formal decision has been made yet.

"We are actively exploring policy options and engaging with key stakeholders to determine the best implementation approach; it is high on our agenda."

Otjozondjupa Governor John ||Khamuseb said the youth centre continues to be the beacon of hope for the region.

"The Otjozondjupa Region continues to expand its expert efforts by implementing and supporting various developmental programs that closely align with the objectives of the national service training programme. These initiatives not only complement the works of the service but also empower the youth to become the agents of change, innovation, and unity within their communities."

The services have enlisted 1,001 youths this year.