STAFF WRITER
Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Dino Ballotti has challenged players in the formative green hydrogen industry to employ a workforce constituting at least 99% Namibians.
He was speaking at the Hyphen Hydrogen Energy launch of the preliminary Green Hydrogen Skills Census portal on Monday.
Ballotti said he dreams of a Namibia where there are many jobs for the youth.
“Hyphen says they have 96% Namibian staff members.We would like to see 99% Namibian workforce if that is doable in future. I would like to see a Namibia where there more jobs for the youth and the sector must always prioritise young people.I want to urge all the young people to apply for this skills census and I want to urge the senior youth top encourage the youth to apply,” he said
Ballotti said young people in Namibia should make an effort to acclimatise themselves with Artificial Intelligence (AI) if they are going to be competitive in future.
“ Our energy transition is not only about energy or our economy, it is at its core, about people – about Namibian families, livelihoods, jobs and skills. And if we are to succeed in our green hydrogen journey, we must put our people at the heart of every step we take,” he said.
Ballotti said Hyphen is now synonymous with green hydrogen and has been pushing investing in tangible aspects that improve the lives of the youth.
“I can confirm that they are investing in real and tangible efforts to ensure that as many Namibians as possible are meaningfully included and empowered to
participate in the green hydrogen opportunity. It is fair that we should recognise this will be a journey requiring patience and persistence, but know that as a nation we are looking to you to unlock job opportunities,” he said. One such effort is what brings us together here this morning,” Balloti said
Hyphen Hydrogen Energy Senior Manager Martin Wilkinson said the Skills Census is progressing well and encouraged young people from across the country to upload their curriculum vitae to be considered for opportunities that they are qualified in.
He said the preliminary results of the census shows great interest from young people in acquiring jobs in the green hydrogen industry.
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