With the emergence of the oil and gas industry came new venture opportunities for the Namibian youth. We see a need to more formally incorporate youth into the oil and gas industry, and we have institutions that have taken action on this in the form of scholarships and business incentive grants, but more of that later. The recent discovery of oil deposits on the coast of Namibia by Total Energies has spiked a modern gold rush, but in the government’s procurement, they should try to incorporate the Namibian youth as much as they can. What exactly does this new industry have to offer?
1. Employment Opportunities
The oil and gas sector provides a variety of job opportunities for Namibian youth. There is a need for knowledgeable professionals in a variety of fields, including engineering, geology, geophysics, environmental sciences, finance, logistics, and project management, as the industry expands and grows. In addition to offering financial security, these jobs also present chances for professional development and personal growth.
Furthermore, a diverse workforce with a variety of skill sets is needed for the development of oil and gas projects. This creates opportunities for people with technical training or vocational education to find work in industries like construction, maintenance, equipment operation, and logistics. Additionally, the industry generates opportunities for indirect employment in fields like hospitality, catering, transportation, and security services. So, we will abundantly be able to put the issue of unemployment among the youth to rest.
2. Entrepreneuership Opportunities
The growth of Namibia’s oil and gas sector also offers young people business opportunities. Local companies are required to offer industry support services and supply goods as the sector grows. This includes, among other things, catering, moving, logistics, renting out equipment, waste management, and environmental consulting.
Young businesspeople can use their abilities and knowledge to launch ventures that serve the requirements of the oil and gas industry. This not only generates employment opportunities but also helps Namibia’s economy grow. The development of local content policies by governments and oil companies also promotes local businesses’ involvement in the supply chain, further enhancing the prospects for youth entrepreneurship.
3. Scholarship Opportunities
The discovery of oil and gas deposits also gave rise to the Patrol Fund, an incentive by the government and the Ministry of Mines and Energy to help prepare future generations for the oil and gas industry. This fund provides scholarships to students who wish to take up careers in the oil and gas industry, and the government is also using this as a means to keep employment among Namibian citizens. The scholarship covers both postgraduate and undergraduate programmes related to the field.
But that isn’t the only form of scholarship going around; we also have bursaries from a multitude of companies, and students should be vigilant about them. These scholarships provide steady jobs directly after graduation and a clear-cut market for individuals to stray into directly after graduation.
In conclusion, Namibia’s oil and gas sector provides a wealth of opportunities for the nation’s youth. These possibilities include the chance to work in a variety of disciplines, the chance to advance one’s skills through training courses and contact with cutting-edge technology, the chance to start one’s own business by offering products and services to the market, and the chance to participate in technological developments that could influence the direction of the industry in the future.
