By Sostenus Wilherm
Namibian entrepreneur, economic diplomat and youth advocate Ndahafa Hapulile intend to leverage her achievements to expand access to opportunities for Namibian youth.
As the newly-appointed African Youth Ambassador Hapulile said this recognition is the result of years of disciplined service and commitment to Africa’s development. She also received the Patrice Lumumba Leadership Excellence and Integrity Award.
“My journey has been one of disciplined service, strategic preparation and unwavering belief in Africa’s potential. I have always understood leadership not as a position but as responsibility,” Hapulile said.
She explained that more than a decade of service as an executive assistant and personal assistant to Cabinet ministers provided her with valuable exposure to governance, policy processes and international engagement. She noted that the experience has strengthened her interest in policy and research as well as ultimately led her to resign from public service to become a full-time economic diplomacy consultant.
Hapulile explained that the her time supporting senior government officials helped her understand the importance of institutional stability and diplomatic discipline, while her leadership involvement with the National Youth Council of Namibia and the SWAPO Party Youth League cemented her role in youth development.
“This recognition is not an isolated moment; it is the culmination of years dedicated to advancing Namibia’s interests, strengthening African cooperation and ensuring that young leaders are prepared to occupy global spaces with competence and dignity.” She stated that it carries significant meaning not only for her personally but also for young people across Namibia and the African continent.
The honour, Hapulile indicated, affirms that young Namibians can rise to positions of influence through excellence, preparation and integrity.
“For Namibian youth, this recognition affirms that excellence, preparation and integrity can position young Namibians as credible voices in shaping Africa’s future.”
She added that the award also reflects a broader shift in Africa, where young people are no longer waiting for opportunities but actively driving change and development.
“For African youth, it reinforces the principle that our generation is not waiting to inherit the continent, we are actively shaping it.”
According to her, receiving the Patrice Lumumba Leadership Excellence and Integrity Award carries deep symbolic significance, representing sovereignty, and the continued pursuit of African dignity.
She added that her commitment is to ensure that Africa’s youth are not mere spectators in economic transformation but active participants and leaders shaping the continent’s future.
She encouraged young people across Namibia and the African continent, to embrace leadership and responsibility in shaping the future, adding that Africa’s greatest strength lies in its young people and called on them to rise above challenges and commit themselves to excellence. “To the youth of Namibia and Africa, our continent does not lack potential. What we need is more disciplined and visionary leadership. Strive to be among those who provide it.” Her focus, she said, is on strengthening meaningful youth participation in economic and policy dialogue, with plans to create platforms that connect young entrepreneurs to continental investment networks.
In an interview with Confidente she said, “true employment is not just about jobs, but about access to capital, knowledge, markets as well as decision-making spaces.”
She urged young people to remain focused, principled and united in advancing the continent’s development and prosperity.
“Let us rise above limitation, division, and short-term thinking. Let us commit to excellence in our professions, integrity in our governance, and unity in our continental aspirations.”
She indicated that young Africans have a responsibility to transform the legacy of liberation into tangible economic and social progress.
“We are called upon to be strategic, principled and inclusive. After all, we are the generation entrusted with translating liberation into prosperity.”
