MTC invests N$2 million in 332 interns

Empowering graduates through paid workplace opportunities
The company has committed N$2 million annually to the programme, launched in 2019 to address the challenges graduates face upon entering the job market.
Desmarius Hansen
  • 1 Day Ago

MTC Namibia has renewed its call for public and private institutions to help empower young Namibians by partnering in the Namibia National Internship Programme (NNIP), an initiative aimed at creating paid workplace opportunities for graduates and tertiary students.

The company has committed N$2 million annually to the programme, launched in 2019 to address the challenges graduates face upon entering the job market.

Initially introduced as an MTC-led intervention, the programme has since evolved into a national collaborative effort involving higher education institutions, vocational training centres and corporate partners focused on preparing young people for employment.

To date, the NNIP has supported hundreds of students from institutions including the University of Namibia, the Namibia University of Science and Technology, the International University of Management, and the Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology across more than 40 disciplines.

In 2025 alone, the programme placed 332 interns, with participants receiving stipends to assist with transport, meals and other living costs while gaining practical industry experience. MTC now aims to create 1 600 internship opportunities and raise N$14 million to expand placements across both public and private sector institutions.

Speaking on the initiative, MTC’s Tim Ekandjo said youth unemployment remains one of Namibia’s most pressing socio-economic challenges. “Through the Namibia National Internship Programme, we are intentionally creating pathways that allow graduates to transition from education into meaningful workplace experience.”

Ekandjo called on corporate Namibia to play a greater role in tackling unemployment by opening more internship opportunities.

Corporate partners already supporting the programme include Standard Bank Namibia, Old Mutual Namibia and the Social Security Commission. MTC said expanding partnerships remain central to helping more young Namibians transition successfully from education into employment.