WINDHOEK, 14 September 2026 — The newly inaugurated National Youth Service (NYS) Board has been urged to strengthen governance, improve the use of public resources and ensure that its programmes deliver meaningful results for young Namibians.
Speaking at the Board’s inauguration in Windhoek, Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, Dr Sanet L. Steenkamp, said the Service must respond to challenges facing young people, including unemployment, changing labour-market demands and technological developments.
Steenkamp identified inclusion, innovation and impact as key priorities for the new Board. She called for equal opportunities for young people across Namibia and programmes that provide relevant skills such as digital, technical and entrepreneurial skills.
The Minister revealed that about 18,000 young people applied for the 17th Recruit Intake of 2026, highlighting the strong demand for opportunities provided by the Service.
She urged the Board to focus not only on recruitment and training numbers, but also on whether young people secure employment, pursue further education and contribute to their communities.
Steenkamp said the success of the new Board should ultimately be measured by whether the National Youth Service becomes stronger, more effective and better positioned to serve young Namibians.
