RLabs students graduate
Reconstructed Living Labs (RLabs) Namibia, under the Namibia Business Innovation Institute (NBII), hosted their seventh annual graduation ceremony on 22 November at the NBII in Windhoek.
Justicia Shipena
This year a total of 70 youth, students and employed individuals graduated and have been trained in several courses, including managing online presence/social media, project management, social innovation and entrepreneurship, photography and photo editing and events management.
RLabs focuses on youth and creates an environment for community-driven innovation by offering various training courses.
Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) deputy vice-chancellor for research and innovation, Pramanathan Govender, in a speech read on behalf of Nust vice-chancellor Tjama Tjivikua, said the university encourages innovation and engagement as part of its mandate and vision to become a world-class university.
Govender said RLabs originated in South Africa in 2008 and today it operates in 22 countries globally.
He said under the NBII, RLabs Namibia has evolved in established training programmes with no cost to unemployed youth.
“The programme strives to provide a platform to influence innovation and technology, in order to address the challenges facing many distressed communities across Namibia. Our goal is to create an environment where individuals are empowered to make a difference in the lives of others,” he said.
Govender added that youth are the resources for socio-economic and technological development.
“Young people are the forefront of change and innovation and you all have the spirit to make things happen,” he said.
Sports ministry permanent secretary Emma Katema-Gaomas said according to the Namibia Labour Force Survey 2016, the country’s youth unemployment rate is 43.4%.
Katema-Gaomas said youth unemployment is being attributed to many factors, among them the lack of skills and qualifications to find employment.
That is why fostering youth employability and empowerment is not just a moral imperative, but an economic necessity, as emphasised by government in its national development plans (NDPs).
“Many unqualified youth are being excluded from economic life, as they do not meet the current job market requirements, and since obtaining their academic qualifications is not a possibility for many of them, they have no opportunities to create employment for themselves and others,” she said.
Katema-Gaomas added that new partnerships and innovative initiatives are needed to target disregarded youth without formal education. By empowering young people and ensuring their participation at all levels, this will help them shape a better and more equitable future for everyone.
She also urged the students not to take these opportunities for granted, and to take matters into their own hands by venturing into self-employment opportunities.
This year a total of 70 youth, students and employed individuals graduated and have been trained in several courses, including managing online presence/social media, project management, social innovation and entrepreneurship, photography and photo editing and events management.
RLabs focuses on youth and creates an environment for community-driven innovation by offering various training courses.
Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) deputy vice-chancellor for research and innovation, Pramanathan Govender, in a speech read on behalf of Nust vice-chancellor Tjama Tjivikua, said the university encourages innovation and engagement as part of its mandate and vision to become a world-class university.
Govender said RLabs originated in South Africa in 2008 and today it operates in 22 countries globally.
He said under the NBII, RLabs Namibia has evolved in established training programmes with no cost to unemployed youth.
“The programme strives to provide a platform to influence innovation and technology, in order to address the challenges facing many distressed communities across Namibia. Our goal is to create an environment where individuals are empowered to make a difference in the lives of others,” he said.
Govender added that youth are the resources for socio-economic and technological development.
“Young people are the forefront of change and innovation and you all have the spirit to make things happen,” he said.
Sports ministry permanent secretary Emma Katema-Gaomas said according to the Namibia Labour Force Survey 2016, the country’s youth unemployment rate is 43.4%.
Katema-Gaomas said youth unemployment is being attributed to many factors, among them the lack of skills and qualifications to find employment.
That is why fostering youth employability and empowerment is not just a moral imperative, but an economic necessity, as emphasised by government in its national development plans (NDPs).
“Many unqualified youth are being excluded from economic life, as they do not meet the current job market requirements, and since obtaining their academic qualifications is not a possibility for many of them, they have no opportunities to create employment for themselves and others,” she said.
Katema-Gaomas added that new partnerships and innovative initiatives are needed to target disregarded youth without formal education. By empowering young people and ensuring their participation at all levels, this will help them shape a better and more equitable future for everyone.
She also urged the students not to take these opportunities for granted, and to take matters into their own hands by venturing into self-employment opportunities.
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