Namibia's Petroleum Training and Education Fund (Petrofund) has launched its scholarship programme, aiming to build a skilled national workforce for the country's growing oil and gas sector.
The programme fully funds undergraduate and postgraduate students in engineering, geosciences, paramedics, and technical vocational training disciplines relevant to upstream oil and gas operations.
Petrofund is also introducing strategic initiatives to accelerate youth integration into the industry, with over 82 young professionals deployed across various technical roles in collaboration with premier service and operating companies.
The scholarship programme was launched during the 2nd Youth in Oil and Gas Summit.
Petrofund has signed 10 memoranda of understanding to deepen these partnerships and enhance practical industry exposure.
The government-led fund is developing a national oil and gas CV repository, set to launch in Q4 2025, to bridge the gap between skilled graduates and industry demand.
It is also strengthening its collaboration with Namibian institutions of higher learning, including the Namibia University of Science and Technology and the University of Namibia, along with regulatory authorities such as the Namibia Qualifications Authority, the National Council for Higher Education, the Namibia Training Authority, and the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Art, and Culture.
To date, Petrofund has supported 438 Namibians in petroleum-related studies, achieving a 90 per cent internship and employment placement rate for its Master’s level beneficiaries.
This programme ensures that Namibians are equipped with the technical expertise to actively participate in and lead in-country value creation, aligning with the country’s Local Content Policy and setting the foundation for long-term, inclusive growth.
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) commends Petrofund’s leadership and forward-thinking strategy to anchor Namibian youth at the core of the country’s growing energy economy.
“Petrofund is setting the standard for what youth empowerment in Africa’s energy sector should look like. By aligning skills development with industry demand and embracing inclusivity, Namibia is not just preparing its young people for jobs – it’s preparing them for leadership. The Chamber fully supports these efforts, which will ensure that Namibians are not just bystanders, but key drivers of their energy future,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC. -OGN / TradeArabia News Service