By Kleopas Nghikefelwa/
During the week of 24 to 26 June 2025, 70 individuals attended a business skills training workshop at Ongula Homestead School.
The training was a result of a tender by Ohangwena Directorate of Education, Arts and Culture, to conduct a three days basic entrepreneurship skills training for some adult participants who came from constituencies such as Oshikunde, Ondobe and Ohangwena in Ohangwena region.
The training workshop brought together adults participants who received free basic business management skills, which they need to expand or start up their businesses for self-employment benefits.
The workshop was a brain-child of Mr. Matheus Iitula, Senior Culture Officer in the Ohangwena Directorate of Education, Arts and Culture.
Although men were also invited to this workshop, a higher number of rural women participated.
This indicated that Namibia rural women have a higher interest for entrepreneurship training programmes, which can uplift or empower them to become successful business people in their communities.
Some few men and majority of women who attended are traditional food street vendors, small scale farmers, cuca shop owners, traditional-performance artists, art and craft makers, art and culture teachers, community activists, pottery and bricks making project owner.
During the workshop the participants got opportunities to share some basic challenges that are facing their small business. But they were also provided with information about where they should go look for help including for financial assistance, such as National Arts Council of Namibia, Ministry of Gender and Child Welfare and many others government agencies, that provide assistance to small business entrepreneurs in rural areas.
The training programme received good supports services from both regional constituency councillors and education officers from Oshikunde, Ondobe and Ohangwena, who provided facilities and transportation used during the workshop.
The training was a non-profitable activity, which is aimed at empowering Namibian rural entrepreneurs in Ohangwena region, a region which is heavily affected by unemployment and poverty.
Training organisers thanked Mrs. Hilja Nghiwete who gave them this great opportunity to serve as ambassadors of Ongula Homestead School, which is at the forefront to transform Namibian rural economy through entrepreneurship and skills training development in Ohangwena region.
The organisers also emphasised that in future something has to be done to mobilise more men to participate in such training in order to create more gender equality.
Training participants were happy and they expressed desire to receive more skills training through this kind of development workshops happening in rural areas, where the majority of the population live.
This will prevent more people to migrate to urban areas, where all opportunities are allocated.
In the photo: Some of the participants of the training. [Photos by Silas Nghuushi]
