By Sostenus Wilherm
The MTC Namibia has committed N$2 million annually towards the Namibia National Internship Programme (NNIP), an initiative aimed at bridging the gap between academic qualification and workplace experience for tertiary students across the country.
Through the programme, MTC is urging Namibian institutions and private sector partners to collaborate in creating opportunities that transition young people from qualification to meaningful participation in the economy.
The NNIP was introduced in 2019 as a national intervention to address barriers faced by graduates entering the labour market. The programme provides paid internship placements designed to offer practical work exposure, mentorship and industry experience for students and graduates across Namibia.
What began as an MTC-led initiative has evolved into a national collaboration involving public institutions, universities, vocational training centres and private companies working toward preparing young Namibians for the world of work.
The programme has supported hundreds of students from institutions including the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), University of Namibia (UNAM), International University of Management (IUM),
Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) and institutions under the Namibia Training Authority (NTA). Beneficiaries have been placed across more than 40 disciplines ranging from geology and welding to logistics, environmental health science and animal health science.
In 2025, 332 interns were placed through the initiative, with NUST accounting for 104 students, UNAM 86, NIMT 65, IUM 39, and NTA-affiliated institutions 38.
Interns receive monthly stipends of N$3,000 for three-month placements and N$1,500 for six-month placements, enabling them to cover transport, meals and other basic needs while gaining workplace exposure.
The programme aims to scale up significantly, targeting 1,600 internship opportunities and raising N$14 million in contributions to expand placements across public and private sector institutions.
MTC chief brand, marketing, communications and sustainability officer Tim Ekandjo said youth unemployment remains one of Namibia’s most pressing socio-economic challenges.
“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,” Ekandjo said.
