The proposed state-owned vocational training centre in Omuthiya has been approved, with Phase 1 construction slated to begin this September.

The leadership of the Namibia Training Authority (NTA) met with Oshikoto regional leaders on Friday about the establishment of Omuthiya VTC. 

The training centre aims to equip over 1,700 trainees, with the initial intake expected to accommodate 650 students. This will cover various fields, including smart agriculture, automotive, hospitality, mining, energy, and construction.

Phase one of the 13.2-hectare training centre, valued at more than N$200 million, is expected to be completed within 24 months, and it is projected to create employment.

NTA Chief Executive Officer Erick Nenghwanya said the establishment of the training centre is part of the authority's strategy to expand TVET institutions countrywide to meet growing demand and improved skills development.

"In NTA, we have what we call the expansion strategy for TVET in Namibia to make sure that we create a dependable, reliable and quality workforce for the industry in the country. Our intention is to ensure that we achieve this goal. By providing this state-owned VTC, we already have a number of them in the country."

Oshikoto Regional Council acting Chief Regional Officer welcomed the commencement of the project.

"We are looking forward to the commencement of the project, and we have also given some tasks we need to execute and further engage our stakeholders in the region. To propose more courses, the VTC can look at." 

Omuthiya Constituency Councillor Erastus Nekomba expressed his gratitude, saying, "We are over the moon seeing that this is one of a kind in the region, in Omuthiya to be specific. We would like to see trained people; parents do not have to send their children far, but they will come straight from secondary school to vocational school. No more excuses. I envisioned Omuthiya with many engineers. It is something to commend on."

The NTA and Oshikoto Regional Council officials also inspected the site where the VTC will be constructed.

There are currently twelve state-owned VTCs across the country's various regions, making this the fourteenth.