Search for new commissioner for NYS begins

WINDHOEK, 08 DEC – The search for a new commissioner for the National Youth Service (NYS) has started with the youth, women and marginalised communities to be given priority during the selection process.
This was announced by NYS Board Chairperson Mandela Kapere during a media briefing on new developments at the National Youth Service here on Friday.

Kapere said the new commissioner will replace Onesmus Upindi, whose term expires at the end of March 2019.
“We want to attract young people for this position since this is a youth institution, but the candidate we want should be competent with at least 10 years’ experience. We hope to receive a positive response from the public and get many applications,” said Kapere.

He said the board will announce who the four shortlisted candidates for the position are to ensure that the recruitment process is transparent and fair as was directed by President Hage Geingob.

The new commissioner is expected to start on 01 April 2019.
Speaking about the challenges the National Youth Service faces, Upindi said it was difficult putting together a team that could transform the institution into what it is today.

“We built NYS from the ground up and today it is accredited by the Namibia Qualifications Authority. Back then we had no regional centres but now we can proudly mention a few that we built with a depleted budget,” he said.

The NYS also announced that it would recruit around 700 youth from all 14 regions to undergo training to acquire various skills early next year.

This will follow two years of no intakes for the first time since 2007 as a result of the economic downturn which affected the budget of the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service, under which the NYS falls. – NAMPA