Namibia’s Vision for Inclusive Development Shared at University of Pennsylvania

Remarks by Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, president of the Republic of Namibia, at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 25 September 2025

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Distinguished faculty, esteemed students, ladies and gentlemen,

At the onset I wish to extend my appreciation for the invitation to address you today at the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League institution known not only for its academic excellence, but for its enduring commitment to global engagement and leadership.

This opportunity to engage with a distinguished academic community provides for meaningful dialogue on the future of Africa and our shared global responsibilities.

We are proud that a number of Namibians have walked the halls of this institution, women and men who have gone on to serve with distinction in the public and private sectors. Their success is a testament to the University of Pennsylvania’s global reach and the transformative power of education. Indeed, education remains the greatest equaliser.

Namibia’s post-independence journey since 1990 has been one of a thriving constitutional democracy, anchored in respect for the rule of law, systems, processes, institutions, peace, and political stability.

We have maintained a multiparty system, conducted regular constitutionally grounded elections, and upheld the separation of powers between the executive, legislature, and judiciary.

Our judiciary is independent, our parliament is robust, and our governance is driven by evidence-based policy, not expedience. This has earned Namibia recognition as one of the most stable democracies on the African continent.

On 21 March 2025, I was sworn in as the fifth democratically elected president of the Republic of Namibia, marking another milestone in our maturing democracy.

Since taking office, I have been saying in Namibia, we are too few to be poor. With a population of just over three million, our poverty is not a matter of scale, it is a matter of overcoming inequality as a legacy of apartheid colonialism. 

It is for this reason that the eighth administration has adopted a people-centred plan focused on seven strategic national priorities supported by eight critical economic enablers to ensure sustainable development.

7 priority areas:

• Agriculture
• Sport
• Youth empowerment
• Quality education and training
• Creative industries
• Quality health and social welfare
• Land, housing and sanitation
  

8 critical economic enablers:

• Mining
• Energy
• Oil and gas
• Tourism
• Agriculture
• Water
• Fisheries
• Transport and logistics
  

These priorities and their enablers have been mainstreamed across our National Development Plan (NDP6), which was recently launched and aligned to the performance frameworks of all ministries and public institutions. They are not theoretical. They are measurable, time-bound, and people-focused.

The overarching theme for the eighth administration is ‘Unity in Diversity, Natural Resources Beneficiation, Youth Empowerment and Sustainable Development’. 

For too long, African nations have exported raw materials while importing value-added products at a premium. This model has cost us jobs, technology, and sovereignty. Namibia is committed to reversing this trend through value addition and mineral beneficiation.

We are rich in critical and strategic minerals such as lithium, rare earth elements, uranium, copper, and graphite. These are materials essential for the global green transition. However, we do not accept to continue being mere suppliers of raw inputs for others’ prosperity. We are now seeking strategic investments in local processing, refining, and manufacturing in partnership with global actors.

The objective is clear: to ensure that the value of our resources benefits our people as it benefits export markets. Meaning, we will apply a fair sharing benefit between the Namibian economy and foreign investors.

We are also developing policies that integrate beneficiation into local supply chains, skills development, and technology transfer, with a special focus on youth employment and women-owned enterprises, including in the mining value chain. This is economic transformation with intent, and with tangible impact to the communities where such investments are located.

Namibia demonstrates that gender equality and leadership excellence are not only mutually exclusive, they are mutually reinforcing. Namibia is proud to be a leader in gender-inclusive governance. 

Today, the president, vice president, speaker of parliament, and secretary general of the ruling Swapo Party, are all women. Additionally, 57% of Cabinet members are women.

We have moved beyond mere representation to substantive empowerment with gender-responsive budgeting, legal reforms, and dedicated support for women in agriculture, enterprise, and leadership. We recognise that gender equality is a development multiplier, as no society can reach its full potential while half of its population is held back.

Africa is home to the world’s youngest population, with over 60% under the age of 25. By 2050, we will comprise nearly a third of the world’s youth.

This youth projection is not a burden; it is a generational opportunity. However, to unlock this demographic dividend, we must invest boldly in:

• Education and training
• Digital and creative economies
• Entrepreneurship and employment
• Youth political inclusion and leadership development
  

That is why youth empowerment is a national priority in Namibia. We are investing in infrastructure, technology, and enterprise, particularly in sectors such as renewable energy, sports, agribusiness, and the creative industries. 

We have launched and operationalised a National Youth Fund in addition to skills development and training frameworks. We are abolishing registration and tuition fees for all public higher education institutions and vocational training centres. The objective is to enable the youth to be a critical mass in economic activities.

Africa is not merely navigating change, we are shaping it by building institutions that are stronger than individuals, and fostering a leadership culture based on merit, inclusion, and service.

Africa stands at the cusp of historic transformation. This transformation requires a new kind of leadership grounded in ethics, competence, and collaboration. We are guided by the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions an Africa that is prosperous, integrated, and led by its citizens. 

Namibia is committed to realising this vision by building strong institutions, promoting intra-African cooperation, and supporting regional peace and security.

Another important area is the operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which marks a turning point in Africa’s economic future. AfCFTA is not merely a trade agreement, it is a platform for industrialisation, value addition, and intra-African opportunity. Namibia is already leading in this endeavour through the export of 45 tons of salt to Nigeria this year.

Namibia is also investing in transport corridors, ports, clean energy, and digital connectivity to become a regional hub for trade, logistics, and investment. We see ourselves as part of a wider ecosystem where African economies are not isolated, but interconnected.

We see the AfCFTA as not just about trade, it is about jobs, mobility, innovation, and inclusive growth. It is about giving our youth and entrepreneurs access to a market of over 1.4 billion people in Africa. 

That is why we are here in Philadelphia to deepen ties between Namibia and the United States. Our visit to Philadelphia is not ceremonial, it is strategic. We are engaging with local authorities, academic institutions, and the private sector to explore opportunities in:

• Higher education and research
• Energy, mineral value addition and beneficiation
• Health innovation and technology
• The creative economy and digital skills
• Trade, logistics, and sustainable development
  

We see American universities, including the University of Pennsylvania, as natural partners in our development journey. We invite you to engage with Namibian universities, youth innovators, and research institutions to co-create solutions that benefit both our nations. 

In the same vein, we welcome academic exchanges, institutional partnerships, and joint ventures that align with our national priorities and Africa’s Agenda 2063.

To the students gathered here, you are not only witnesses to the future, you are its architects. We urge you to engage with Africa and Namibia in particular, as a strategic partner, a source of innovation, and a continent of the future. We are ready to lead, and we welcome partners who are ready to walk alongside us.

Democracy, gender equality, and leadership are not separate pursuits, they are interdependent. They form the bedrock of a just, peaceful, and prosperous society. Namibia has demonstrated what inclusive, visionary, and competent leadership can achieve.

Together, with partners like you, we can deliver on our commitments made, achieve sustainable development, build institutions that deliver and empower youth to lead.

I thank you.

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