Patience Makwele
Prime minister Elijah Ngurare has urged graduates to use their qualifications to create opportunities for themselves and contribute to Namibia’s development as the country continues facing high youth unemployment.
Ngurare made the remarks on Wednesday during the 2026 graduation ceremony of Triumphant College, where more than 600 graduates received certificates, diplomas and degrees in fields including computer science, education, engineering and legal studies.
The number of graduates increased from the 523 recorded last year.
Addressing the graduates, Ngurare encouraged young people to continue learning, researching and developing new ideas beyond the classroom.
“Remember that education is a public good,” he said. “Be hungry and thirsty for research and development because these are essential drivers for economic growth, technological advancement and improving the quality of life.”
He told graduates that their future now depends on how they use the skills and knowledge they gained during their studies.
“The future is in your hands. There should be no room for underperformance,” Ngurare said.
Member of parliament Tobie Aupindi also addressed the ceremony and reflected on his own experiences after returning from exile in 1990.
Aupindi said education helped shape the lives of many young Namibians and continues to open opportunities for future generations.
“Today I look at you young people and I am profoundly excited and proud,” he said. “I see myself in you. We came back with different stories, scars and uncertainties, but education helped shape many of us toward a better future.”
For many graduates, the ceremony marked years of sacrifice, financial struggle and determination to complete their studies.
Triumphant College graduate and Student Representative Council president Morres Samuel said students faced many challenges during their academic journeys.
“There will be rejection, delays, closed doors and moments of doubt,” Samuel said. “But do not stop because success does not belong to the most comfortable people. It belongs to people who keep moving forward even when things get hard.”
He also thanked parents and guardians for supporting students throughout their studies.
“To our parents, guardians and families, thank you,” he said. “Your sacrifices carried us to this stage. Your prayers strengthened us and your belief in us kept us going.”
The graduation comes at a time when many young Namibians continue struggling to find jobs due to limited internship opportunities, lack of work experience and growing competition in the labour market.
Education stakeholders have increasingly encouraged graduates to focus on entrepreneurship, adaptability and skills development as alternative pathways to employment.
For many graduates, the ceremony represented both achievement and the beginning of a new challenge as they prepare to enter a demanding economy.
“Education opens the door. What matters now is how we choose to walk through it,” Samuel said.
