The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture is committed to closing the skills gap in untapped sciences, technologies, engineering, and the vocational trades that underpin them.
This was reaffirmed at the Innovating Green Networks Through Industry and TVET Empowerment for Green Hydrogen signing ceremony between Namibia and Germany by the Deputy Executive Director for Higher Education Training, Research and Innovation, Lisho Mundia.
Dr. Mundia, who was speaking on behalf of the minister, Sanet Steenkamp, noted that while the ministry recognises that for industrialisation to succeed, education, technical skills, and vocational training must stand at the centre.
"We all know Namibia has declared its vision to become a continental and also global leader in the production and export of green hydrogen. As such, as a ministry responsible for education, innovation, youth, sports, arts and culture, we recognise that for this mission to be successful, education, skills, technical skills and vocational training must stay at the centre."
He said, like many other African countries, Namibia faces some skills gaps; the ministry is committed to closing this gap by strengthening vocational education and training.
Another is by aligning curriculums with industry needs, re-skilling trainers, and providing pathways for young Namibians to progress from TVET into higher learning institutions.
NUST Vice Chancellor Erold Naomab said the IGNITE GH2 project and the partnership with NIMT, Nam Water, Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, Zhero, and Keetmanshoop Vocational Training Centre, NUST will strengthen vocational training pathways and align them with industry needs.
"We also anticipate that IGNITE GH2 will ignite further developments and investments in Namibia's green hydrogen economy. By demonstrating the value of skilled human capital, industry-aligned training, and applied research, the project will attract new partners, foster innovation, and encourage sustainable industrial expansion across our country."
NUST has been awarded leadership of the IGNITE Green Hydrogen Project, which is a multi-million-euro initiative funded by the European Union.
It was conceived to strengthen Namibia's emerging green hydrogen and Power-to-X sectors.
The grant, valued at N$40 million, will be implemented over a period of 24 months starting next month.
As the lead organisation, NUST will head a consortium.