Katutura: Prime Minister Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare has called on Namibian youth to embrace resilience, unity, and accountability as key drivers in building a disaster-resilient nation.
According to Namibia Press Agency, speaking at the commemoration of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, held at the UN Plaza in Katutura, Ngurare emphasised the importance of empowering young people to take an active role in national development and preparedness.
“Our youth must unite to embrace opportunities and find space to empower each other,” Ngurare said, stressing that the newly launched National Youth Development Fund, capitalised with N.dollars 257 million, represents a concrete step towards unlocking youth potential.
He added that the youth should not fear failure, but rather learn and grow through experience. “If a young person starts a business and stumbles, that is not the end. What they need is mentoring. Let us hold their hands and help them learn,” he said, urging leaders and communities to support young entrepreneurs with patience and guidance.
Ngurare underscored that every national effort in disaster risk reduction and community resilience must include a strong youth empowerment component. “Every effort, every action must have a common denominator in it – youth empowerment, youth empowerment, youth empowerment,” he said, to applause from the audience.
Highlighting the day’s theme, “Funding Resilience, Not Disasters,” Ngurare said the cost of inaction far outweighs the cost of preparedness. He encouraged ministries, regional councils, and local authorities to integrate disaster risk management into their annual plans and budgets, noting that youth-driven initiatives can play a key role in achieving sustainable resilience.
He further urged young Namibians to act with integrity and reject corruption, saying, “If you find that someone wants to corrupt you, report them, even to your pastor. Do not give up on your dreams.”
Ngurare’s message resonated with the broader focus of the event, which brought together representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the City of Windhoek (CoW), the United Nations (UN), and other stakeholders to promote proactive disaster risk management.
Ngurare concluded by reminding the youth that they are the cornerstone of Namibia’s resilience agenda. “Let us hold our young people’s hands. Let us give them a chance. Prevention is better than cure, and that begins with empowering the next generation,” he said.