Coming from humble beginnings

The African Leaders Initiative (APLI) provides opportunities for the youth to develop their skills, which is in line with Paulus Tangeni Amuthenu’s belief that the African child has immense potential.The newly appointed finance executive for APLI and a trainee at Deloitte Namibia, said: "Having been part of the fellowship in 2019, I’ve had first-hand experience of what the fellowship can do both through my experience and those of my fellow youth who were part of the programme."Amuthenu, with his blend of an accounting and finance background, says his past experiences have best positioned him to add value beyond numbers when making decisions in the context of APLI.He said that, traditionally, the sector is regarded as being more result oriented.He will be a custodian of APLI finances to ensure that APLI will operate effectively far into the future to ensure that more youth benefit from the programme.One of Amuthenu’s biggest challenges was his desire to make a large-scale impact in his community."This often meant that I lacked structure and focus. To overcome this, I joined the APLI team as a trainee, under whose leadership I received guidance and a platform to make the change I wished to see."His biggest highlight was when his journey with community work started.He tutored high school learners. His class of maths higher-level learners achieved a 100% pass rate at Academia Secondary School.Amuthenu said that he believes the role is a journey and not a destination. Three steps"I’d say my preparation was in three parts. It started when I was in grade 10 and was elected as a City of Windhoek junior councillor, which exposed me to the hardships in our nation but also the potential that young people have."He said this created a desire to "improve my community. Secondly, having joined the APLI 2019 fellowship, guided my journey of self-improvement. This was based on the premise that to make an impact in the community, you must start with the man in the mirror."Finally, my academic background has helped a lot considering that I am in my 6th year in my journey to become a chartered accountant. Through Deloitte, I have been exposed to a wide range of industries and opportunities for professional growth."As a result, he said he learned "invaluable skills which now are bearing fruit in my current role."His advice is for people not to underestimate their impact on the world. "So go out there and give it your all."

Coming from humble beginnings

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-18

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Coming from humble beginnings

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-18

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