By Staff Reporter

Copyright web

Staff Reporter

PRESIDENT Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to inclusive development, youth empowerment, and gender equality during an engagement with students and faculty at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Highlighting her U.S. visit, Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia seeks deeper partnerships in higher education, energy, health innovation, digital skills, trade, and sustainable development. She invited American universities, including the University of Pennsylvania, to collaborate with Namibian institutions and youth innovators.

Photos: Namibian Presidency

Addressing the gathering under the theme “Democracy, Gender Equality, and Leadership in Africa: Namibia’s Vision for Inclusive and Transformational Development”, Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted Namibia’s democratic journey since independence in 1990, noting the country’s reputation as one of Africa’s most stable democracies.

“Our judiciary is independent, our Parliament is robust, and our governance is driven by evidence-based policy, not expedience,” she said.

The president, who was sworn in on 21 March this year as Namibia’s fifth democratically elected head of state, stressed that the nation’s small population of just over 3 million should not equate to poverty. Instead, she emphasised tackling inequality as a legacy of apartheid.

Her administration has adopted seven strategic priorities—agriculture, sports, youth empowerment, education and training, creative industries, health and welfare, and land, housing and sanitation—supported by eight economic enablers such as mining, energy, oil and gas, tourism, agriculture, water, fisheries, and logistics. These are aligned with the newly launched National Development Plan Six (NDP6).

On natural resources, Nandi-Ndaitwah underlined Namibia’s push to move beyond exporting raw minerals and instead pursue beneficiation and local value addition. “We will ensure that the value of our resources benefits our people as it benefits export markets,” she said, adding that partnerships would focus on technology transfer, skills development, and youth employment.

She further added Namibia’s progress in advancing women’s leadership, pointing out that women currently hold the positions of President, Vice President, Speaker of Parliament, and SWAPO Party Secretary General, while 57% of Cabinet members are women.

“Gender equality is a development multiplier. No society can reach its full potential while half of its population is held back,” she told the audience.

With Africa’s youth projected to account for nearly a third of the world’s youth population by 2050, Nandi-Ndaitwah called this demographic shift a “generational opportunity” rather than a burden. She outlined Namibia’s investment in education, digital skills, renewable energy, agribusiness, and the creative economy, and confirmed that tuition and registration fees at public higher education and vocational institutions are being abolished to increase access.

The president also reaffirmed Namibia’s support for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as “a platform for industrialisation, value addition, and intra-African opportunity.” She cited Namibia’s recent export of 45 tons of salt to Nigeria as an early example of regional trade growth.

“Democracy, gender equality, and leadership are not separate pursuits, they are interdependent. They form the bedrock of a just, peaceful, and prosperous society,” she concluded.