Namibia has a very high youth population that compels the government to pay particular attention in addressing their needs, ||Kharas Governor, Aletha Frederick has said.
Frederick while addressing a two-day youth empowerment seminar here on Thursday, said young people continue to face challenges of unemployment, poverty, health and HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, access to quality education, discrimination, lack of access to jobs, and entrepreneurial skills.
“I challenge the youth, in all their formations, to wake up every day and begin every single day with more determination than ever before and with greater discipline to make a mark in this new struggle, the struggle against poverty and unemployment,” she encouraged.
Frederick said that despite the commendable efforts by the government and other strategic partners over the past 30 years, the relative deficiency to integrate young people as strategic partners in the national development process remains a major concern.
Another concern, she noted, is that the young in their majority are not well organized to capitalize on opportunities presented to them and urged young people in leadership to mobilize their fellow youth to participate in socio-economic development programs.
The governor further said with the establishment of an institute of higher education in the region the youth have the opportunity to take full advantage of the demographic dividend by improving their employability, skills set and entrepreneurship aspirations to position themselves to become job creators.
“We must also emphasize vocational education training to provide necessary skills for jobs and self-employment,” she said.
Lüderitz Mayor, Anna-Marie Hartzenberg on her part said it is important that the youth get inspired, dream and work towards endless possibilities whereby the sky is the limit.
She encouraged the youth to establish themselves as responsible leaders of tomorrow whom the communities they would one day lead can confide in.
The seminar is hosted by the Luderitz Waterfront Development Company in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports, Youth and National Service under the theme ‘Get inspired, dream and work towards the possibilities.’
Source: Namibia Press Agency
