Staff Reporter
PRIME Minister Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare has urged young people in the Oshana Region to actively apply for support under the National Youth Development Fund (NYDF), warning that funds should not go unused due to a lack of applications.
Speaking at Namibia’s 36th Independence Day celebrations in Oshakati, Ngurare made a strong appeal to youth to seize opportunities provided by the government, particularly the collateral-free NYDF aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs.
He emphasised that the fund is accessible to all Namibians aged 45 and below, regardless of political affiliation, and requires no collateral.
“We do not want the money to go back to the Treasury because there are no applications. It should be the other way around — more applications than money,” Ngurare said.
Ngurare also highlighted broader government interventions aimed at empowering young people, including subsidised tertiary education, adding that 2026 marks the first time students enrolled at public universities without paying registration and tuition fees.
The NYDF provides financial and technical support to young entrepreneurs, with government having rolled out N$257 million in its initial phase last year. Ngurare said an additional N$500 million will be allocated annually over the next five years to expand the initiative.
He further called on regional councillors to ensure that young people in their constituencies are informed about and benefit from the fund. To date, approximately N$4 million has been accessed by youth in the Oshana Region.
Photo: Office of the Prime Minister (OPM Namibia)
