TransNamib and NIMT cement relationship

Public rail operator, TransNamib and Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) earlier  this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on skills development and capacity building.
Hippy Tjivikua, acting CEO of TransNamib Holding at the signing of the MoU with the NIMT Executive Director Echart Mueller said that skills, knowledge and competencies play a meaningful role in the broader spectrum of socio-economic development and that a huge demand for skilled employees such as artisans, technicians in various engineering disciplines is being experienced nationwide.
TransNamib will enrol 48 trainees from NIMT on job attachment. The company plans to commit to an annual arrangement after re-assessing its technical needs and capacity by the end of this year.
“The role players in the education sector and the various industries should take a lead in ensuring joint development of the required skills and competencies if Namibia is to achieve its national development goals and objectives,” Tjivikua said.
Trainees on job attachment will spend a sizeable amount of their six months minimum practical training period with TransNamib. The company will then consider appointing trainees on permanent basis as prioritising the training institute first.
Tjivikua alluded at NIMT’s impressive housekeeping in maintaining the workshop facilities as impeccable.
“As a highly technical company, TransNamib is one of the institutions that continues to experience a perennial shortage of employees in the technical fields, and will naturally appreciate the critical role played by NIMT as an institution that prepares a skilful and marketable youth for the economy,” Tjivikua said.

NIMT Executive Director, Mueller said that national developments at times overshoots the prioritising of investing in youth development through education in alleviating poverty.
“With NIMT serving on the Pan African Congress on Vocational Education we have a success story to defend,” added Mueller.
“This agreement demonstrates how the two institutions fully recognize the benefits of joining hands in order to work together in the identified areas of our cooperation. Through its well-articulated vocational education programs, NIMT has been able to respond to the market demand for technical people through its campuses across the country,” said Tjivikua.