Nedbank boosts education Trust

Nedbank Namibia has reaffirmed its commitment to building a future-ready workforce through a strengthened investment in its internal NedNamibia Holdings (NNH) Education Trust. The trust supports Nedbank employees and their dependants in accessing quality tertiary education across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

The trust was launched in 2025 to generate sustainable funding through the management of shares and investments, providing financial assistance for any accredited programme within SADC. At its inception, the trust supported 23 beneficiaries, comprising 16 employees and seven dependants, as reported at the launch event in March 2025. This initiative aligns with Nedbank’s broader drive to address Namibia’s low tertiary education enrolment relative to global rates, while empowering staff through career-advancing qualifications.

One year later, the trust has expanded in both funding and impact. In 2026, Nedbank Namibia allocated N$760,000 to fund the studies of 23 beneficiaries, once again demonstrating sustained demand and reaffirming the bank’s long-term commitment to education. The 2026 cohort represents diverse academic fields, including commerce, data science, law, informatics, and microbiology. This growth reflects the trust’s maturation from a promising pilot initiative into a strategic human capital investment with significant year-on-year momentum.

In contrast, the 2025 launch year focused primarily on establishing the trust and proving its concept. That initial cohort represented the first stage in demonstrating the trust’s relevance and effectiveness in enabling employee development. The initiative emerged in response to local tertiary enrolment figures of 20.89%, significantly lower than the 40% global average, and the proven link between higher education and employability. Statistics indicate that those with tertiary qualifications are 24% more likely to secure employment.

The trust remains deeply integrated into the bank’s employee value proposition, which prioritises career development, work-life balance, inclusivity, and purpose-led work. This ecosystem continues to evolve through initiatives such as flexible work practices, Top Achiever Recognition Awards, and the award-winning Nedbank Wellness Facility.

"The Trust has, in just one year, demonstrated both its necessity and its potential. The growing demand and quality of applications encouraged us to scale our commitment this year, increasing our allocation to ensure more of our employees and their dependents have access to quality tertiary education," Nedbank Namibia executive for human capital, Bianca Muller, said.

"Our increased investment this year reinforces our commitment to Growth and People Transformation. The Trust is not an act of charity - it is a strategic investment in our people, our culture, and our future," Muller added.

NNH Education Trust Trustee Chairperson, Elizabeth Mannasse, echoed these sentiments, noting that the deepened investment in 2026 signifies a shift from a new initiative to an embedded institutional mechanism for skills development: "We really are looking to not only solve Nedbank's problems, but really Namibia at large, and I think that's also reflected in our Minister of Finance National budget speech in terms of what she says in terms of the theme being people, productivity and prudence."

The growth in funding and the broadening of eligible fields of study underscore Nedbank’s ambition to future-proof its workforce within a rapidly evolving skills landscape.