Africa-Press – Namibia.
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has applauded the leadership of !Nknongo Community College for providing access to education for marginalised youth.
!Nknongo Community College in Okongo, together with its sister institution, the Skills and Technical Education Academy (HSTEA) in Ongula yaNetanga village in the Ohangwena region, are among Namibia’s first academic institutions to focus on learners from indigenous minority communities and disadvantaged backgrounds. Both institutions are privately owned by Hilya Nghiwete.
During his visit to the college last week, Ngurare commended the enrolment of Khwe learners from Bwabwata National Park in Zambezi, who joined the programme despite facing serious socio-economic challenges.
The PM praised the college’s commitment to inclusivity and emphasised the importance of creating opportunities for learners from Namibia’s most remote and disadvantaged communities.
!Nknongo College, which has two campuses — one in town and another in the Okongo Conservancy — was officially opened in November last year. The Urban Campus, located at the Okongo SME Park, offers courses in hospitality and tourism, clothing production, and tutorial classes for Grade 11 and 12 learners, while the Conservancy Campus focuses on wildlife and ecotourism.
HSTEA, on the other hand, was founded in 2018 with a vision to empower young Namibians with practical skills that can lead to sustainable livelihoods. It began its training programmes in 2019, offering courses in hospitality and tourism, clothing production, entrepreneurship, and horticulture and crop husbandry.
This month’s intake reflects the college’s dedication to providing opportunities for marginalised groups. Students enrolled include three learners from Sheya Shuushona in the Omusati region, three from Okongo Conservancy, three from the Hai//om community in the ||Kharas region, and seven from the Khwe Living Museum in Kavango East. These learners are now able to pursue education and skills training that was previously difficult or impossible to access, opening doors to brighter futures.
Applications for the 2026 intake are now open, as the college continues to expand its reach and impact, empowering young Namibians with the knowledge and skills needed to build sustainable livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to their communities and the nation.
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