Staff Writer
Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) is calling on companies and institutions to create more internship opportunities for young Namibians through the Namibia National Internship Programme.
The appeal follows a call made by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah during the University of Namibia (Unam) graduation ceremony last week, where she urged government institutions and the private sector to convert training budgets into internship and apprenticeship opportunities.
MTC contributes N$2 million every year to the programme, which helps graduates and tertiary students gain workplace experience through paid internships.
The Namibia National Internship Programme was launched in 2019 to address challenges graduates face when trying to enter the job market.
The programme provides practical work experience, mentorship and industry exposure.
MTC said the initiative has grown into a national programme involving universities, vocational training centres, government institutions and private sector partners.
Students from the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust), Unam, International University of Management (IUM), Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology and institutions (Nimt) linked to the Namibia Training Authority have benefited from the programme.
The internships cover more than 40 fields, including geology, welding, logistics, automotive mechatronics, environmental health science and animal health science.
MTC said 332 interns were placed in 2025 alone.
This included 104 students from Nust, 86 from Unam, 65 from Nimt, 39 from IUM and 38 from NTA-affiliated institutions.
Interns receive monthly stipends of N$3 000 for three-month placements and N$1 500 for six-month placements to assist with transport, meals and other costs.
The programme is now targeting 1 600 internship opportunities and aims to raise N$14 million to expand placements in the public and private sectors.
MTC chief brand, marketing, communications and sustainability officer Tim Ekandjo said youth unemployment remains one of Namibia’s biggest challenges.
“Through the Namibia National Internship Programme, we are intentionally creating pathways that allow graduates to transition from education into meaningful workplace experience. In return, restoring hope, building confidence, and preparing a generation of young Namibians to actively participate in the economy,” Ekandjo said.
He said solving youth unemployment requires support from all sectors.
“We are calling on Corporate Namibia to join us in shaping the future workforce of this country because youth unemployment is not a challenge one institution can solve alone. It requires collective national action. Every internship opportunity created has the potential to change the trajectory of a young person’s life,” he said.
Companies that are already supporting the program include Standard Bank Namibia, Old Mutual Namibia, Momentum Metropolitan Namibia, the Social Security Commission, and the Namibia Institute of Pathology.
MTC says it wants more organisations in mining, agriculture, ICT, construction, finance, retail, manufacturing, logistics, health, tourism and media to join the program.
“As a country, we cannot allow talent to stagnate because opportunity is absent. The future of Namibia’s economy depends on whether we are willing to invest in the potential of our young people today,” Ekandjo said.
