Namibians encouraged to seek work internationally

WINDHOEK, 13 OCT – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has urged qualified Namibians to look for employment in regional and international organisations.
Nandi-Ndaitwah made this appeal during the graduation ceremony of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) held here on Friday.
This, according to her, will help them gain more skills and knowledge that can be of great benefit to Namibia and its people.
“I have to mention here that the Namibian challenge of knowing only one international language, which is English, at times works against Namibians to get employment in international organisations, thus limiting our mobility,” she warned, adding that learning other international languages such as French could be a good option.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia has diplomatic relations with 150 countries around the world and is a member of different international organisations such as the United Nations (UN), African Union and the Southern African Development Community among others. This requires Namibians to represent their country, but the number of Namibians employed in such institutions and organisations is very low compared to other countries.
She further said education and training are national priorities and must feature high in the country’s national agenda internationally.
Namibia has entered into educational agreements with many countries, the latest being with Hungary, which was signed on the margins of the UN General Assembly in September, she also said.
“I am glad to inform you that in 2017, a total of 30 agreements and memoranda of understanding with various countries and organisations aimed at strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation at both political and economic trade were signed,” noted Nandi-Ndaitwah.
This requires qualified Namibians to grab employment opportunities outside Namibia.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation, Alfred van Kent who also attended the graduation ceremony, echoed Nandi-Ndaitwah’s sentiments, adding that this could assist in easing the burden that unemployment Namibian graduates face.
(NAMPA)