The future leaders of Namibia's energy sector will gather at Walvis Bay early next month for the second Youth in Oil and Gas Summit, an event intended to ignite the nation's oil and gas industry.
To be held on 25 and 26 July at the Walvis Bay Town Hall, the summit, themed 'Drilling into the Future: Empowering Youth in Namibia's Oil and Gas Revolution', hundreds of youth countrywide.
The concept, according to summit founder Justina Erastus, is to equip young Namibians with the necessary skills, connections and mindset needed to thrive in the energy industry.
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"The oil and gas industry has great opportunities for young Namibians to capitalise on. This summit is here to provide access, mentorship and platforms for youth to be involved in this country-altering journey," Erastus says.
The summit focuses on priority areas of technical training, entrepreneurship, policy engagement and leadership development, with intensive workshops and masterclasses in petroleum engineering, geoscience, energy law and logistics.
Summit liaison officer Helena Ngaifiwa highlights the value of practical empowerment, not just discussion.
"We're not just talking at this summit - we're building skills, providing mentorship, and offering a bridge between youth and real opportunities in the oil and gas sector," Ngaifiwa says.
The programme will include panel sessions with energy executives, technical and business exposure, and networking with policymakers, corporate partners and educators.
A focus will be on entrepreneurship and the development of local content in the energy value chain, according to organisers.
The Youth in Oil and Gas Summit is becoming a critical part of Namibia's broader strategy to ensure that homegrown talent is at the forefront of the nation's energy future, especially with new offshore discoveries placing Namibia on the global stage as a potential oil giant.
"In the long run, we would want young Namibians to spearhead, not only in technical fields but also business, policy and innovation in the whole energy sector," Ngaifiwa says.
Young Namibians from all 14 regions are invited to the summit, Erastus says, adding that the conference is "open to anyone who has an interest or is already involved in the oil and gas industry."
