President Nangolo Mbumba says the new industries of oil, gas, and green hydrogen require graduates to rise to the challenge and play their part in the advancement of Namibia's development agenda.
Dr. Mbumba, in his capacity as Chancellor, delivered the keynote address at UNAM's 104th graduation ceremony in Windhoek.
The graduation ceremony saw students from the School of Accounting, School of Law, School of Business Management, Commerce, and Economics, and the Namibia Business School obtaining qualifications.
President Mbumba told the graduates that the knowledge, skills, and expertise they have acquired during their studies will contribute to the efficient functioning of businesses, financial institutions, and legal systems.
These systems underpin Namibia's socio-economic architecture.
"Where you cannot find formal work, I urge you to harness your entrepreneurial spirit and visionary mindset to create new opportunities, challenge the status quo, and pioneer innovative solutions to address the complex challenges facing our societies. Rather than lamenting unemployment, try and change your mindset positively to find something to do, and one day you will certainly become the author of your own unique and inspiring life story of having engineered your own economic freedom."
The Head of State reiterated a call to graduates to safeguard peace and security and lead with integrity, always striving to make a positive difference.
"On that account, I call upon all Namibians to hold hands and embrace the spirit of Harambee as espoused by our late President Dr. Hage Geingob, to ensure that we root out from amongst our society those elements that wish to engage in violence against fellow Namibians premised on political differences. By embracing each other as inhabitants of one Namibian House and conducting peaceful election campaigns, we will ensure that our graduates will be able to work and live in a peaceful Namibia in which they can pursue their dreams and drive our nation towards greater prosperity."
The required skills in the job market are constantly evolving, given the demands of the sectors.
It is against this background that the graduates are being advised to continuously upskill themselves.
To date, more than 70 000 professionals have graduated from the University of Namibia in various disciplines.