The University of Namibia (UNAM) and the South Africa High Commission commemorated South Africa's National Youth Day and Freedom Day in Windhoek.

The day remembers the contribution young people have made to the struggle against apartheid in South Africa and the freedom of its people.

June 16 is a day when South Africa celebrates the role of young people in shaping the country's history and future.

The National African Student's Association (NASA) has launched its national 10,000-membership campaign at Katima Mulilo in the Zambezi Region.

The student representative body hopes to register students from UNAM's Katima campus as well as the Zambezi Vocational Training Centre.

Speaking at the event, the association's president, Paulus Vihemba, said the aim is to register new members from all of the country's 14 regions.

The development of Namibia is deeply rooted in the agricultural sector.

90% of land is suitable for livestock farming and a large proportion of the country's rural population depends on this activity for food security.

Speaking at the UNAM's graduation ceremony, its Vice-Chancellor Professor Kenneth Matengu noted that it is important to take care of animals and ensure their health and well-being.

UNAM hosts 34 veterinary scientists, scholars, and professors.

The University of Namibia gave the country its first cohort of 16 dentists.

The university held its graduation of health professionals in various disciplines and fields from the Faculty of Health Sciences.

UNAM Vice Chancellor Professor Kenneth Matengu says dentists play a crucial role in society as healthcare providers who specialize in oral health. 

252 students graduated from the School of Education at the University of Namibia (UNAM) in Windhoek.

The graduates received diplomas and degrees in lifelong learning, community education, educational management and leadership, and junior primary education.

The graduates were encouraged to be job creators instead of job seekers.

UNAM's Acting Chancellor, Professor Frednard Gideon, urged the graduates to help solve challenges such as factors that prevent children from accessing quality education, poverty, gender disparity, and disability.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Namibia Professor Kenneth Matengu pointed out that a lack of male role models is one of the contributing factors to boys underperforming in education.

Professor Matengu was speaking at the Rundu Campus graduation ceremony.

Of the more than 580 students who graduated from the School of Nursing, Education and Commerce at the Rundu Campus, 66% are female.

The Namibian government is committed to widening access to institutions of higher learning in the country.

This was said by Vice President Nangolo Mbumba when he inaugurated the University of Namibia's (UNAM) Southern Campus lecture hall complex at Keetmanshoop in the ||Kharas Region.

The government invested N$93 million for the first phase of the construction of the campus.

The construction of the complex, which consists of lecture halls, geoscience laboratories, and administration offices, started in 2016.

Over 90 Namibian students received scholarships to study various related courses in the green hydrogen industry, availed through grant funding from Germany.

Sixty awardees will undertake Master's Degree courses, while 30 will undertake their studies at the local Vocational Training Centres.

The awarding ceremony took place at the State House.

The scholarships are part of the Namibian Youth for Green Hydrogen Scholarship Programme and attracted 1 128 applicants after the applications were opened in March last year.

Namibia needs to produce skills that meet the demands of the job market.

The Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Itah Kandjii-Murangi said this when she motivated the ministry's budget allocation of N$3.8 billion for 2023-2024 in the National Assembly.

Dr. Kandjii-Murangi, re-emphasized innovation, artificial intelligence as well as technical and vocational education and training as pillars that can drive the country's development.

She also highlighted hydrogen and decarbonizing as other requisites.

Associate Professor in the Department of Economics, Accounting and Finance at NUST, Teresia Kaulihowa, questioned whether the current budget allocation will be sufficient to improve and expand Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

Kaulihowa said this at a post-2023/2024 budget analysis and advocacy workshop for members of Parliament in Windhoek. 

TVET system is being improved through a number of measures to reduce youth unemployment and promote economic development.