Edo-Omufo Triumph, a Nigerian expatriate in Namibia, attached to Jakob Marengo Tutorial College Windhoek in 2011 established a free certificate programme in professional office computing for underprivileged Namibian youth.
The programme included no registration and tuition fees for six months and a one-month job attachment. According to Triumph, the main objectives of the programme were to “reduce unemployment rate through the use of ICT, train underprivileged Namibian youth free of charge on ICT, create jobs through the use of ICT and actualise the Vision 2030 policy on ICT”.
Twenty-five less privileged Namibian youth were offered places in 2011 and 16 passed the final examination in June. In July 2012, 169 applied for the programme, 35 were admitted and 27 were successful in the final examianation. In late 2013, over 300 applied for the programme, 50 were selected and admitted, and 12 were successful in the final examination.
In January 2017, 150 applied for the programme, and 50 were admitted and 27 were successful in the final examination. They will be awarded certificate in professional office computing.
“From 2011 when the programme stated till date, we have trained over 350 Namibian youth in the field of ICT,” Triumph said.
Ottilie Abrahams, the principal of Jakob Marengo Tutorial College, provided all the resources and enabling environment (computers, printers, software, projector, water and electricity bill)a.
“Our future plans include training the youth on software development, A+ and networking and well as to train those who are physically challenged,” Triumph said. “Most of our youth who graduated from the programme are gainfully employed. One is working in South Africa.”
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, the special guest of honour Milton Ya Otto, an inspector of education, said: “Education without ICT knowledge cannot survive in this generation”. Ya Otto encouraged the students to continue using ICT tools as this will connect them to the whole world.
As of now, there is no sponsor for the programme, hence Triumph pays the three tutors an allowance. This he does from his monthly salary. Help is welcome in this regard.
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