80% of workforce has matric or less - Uaandja

While the government has been warned about &#039;Dutch disease&#039; regarding the nascent oil and gas industry, it is desperate to create quality jobs for a workforce where 80% of participants have grade 12 or lower qualifications.This according to Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) head Nangula Uaandja, who made the remarks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Benguela Blue Aqua Farming project at Lüderitz yesterday.Dutch disease is an economic phenomenon where the rapid development of one sector of the economy leads to a decline in other sectors.Her remarks coincide with state visit by Belgium&#039;s head of state King Philippe, who is pursuing resources for the development of green hydrogen as Europe feels the pinch of energy shortages. “Many people are warning us of Dutch disease, and of course we know. Before green hydrogen, the Namibian government realised as an economy we are not developing the way we should grow; we are not creating the quality and number of jobs we should. Our economy’s inclusivity was very low. We need to diversify this economy," she said.Uaandja noted that unemployment is "very high", and added that this is even more concerning when considering that "about 80% of employed Namibians are people with grade 12 or less". "This begs the question of whether we are not producing graduates or whether our economy is not generating employment opportunities for graduates. We found out it was the latter... We need opportunities that will generate employment for our school-leavers as well as our graduates. The project we launched today was one of those investment projects that will provide such opportunities."Meanwhile, Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has reminded industry leaders that they and the NIPDB should ensure that Namibian small and micro enterprises participate fully in this project. “When we talk about local content, there must be a deliberate and persistent effort to ensure that Namibians and local communities in particular fully benefit from the value chain generated through our natural resources. As a growing nation, with a population currently standing at just over three million, the demand for a better quality of life and sustainable jobs will continue to rise, and this challenge demands resilient and innovative response strategies," she said.jemima@namibiansun.com

80% of workforce has matric or less - Uaandja

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-11

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80% of workforce has matric or less - Uaandja

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-11

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