Alliances formed to equip ||Kharas youth

The Governor of the ||Kharas Region, Gaob Dawid Casius Gertze, announced that his office had signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU’s) with Girafee Energy, the National Youth Council (NYC) and Quantus Investments.


Gertze, who made the announcement at the end of the first day of the Governor's Symposium 2025, themed "From offshore potential to national prosperity" in Lüderitz on Tuesday, labelled the MoU with Girafee Energy a "transformative" alliance and said it stands as a beacon of empowerment for the region's youth. “Through this MoU, trailblazing Namibian entrepreneur Knowledge Katti donated his 10% stake in Giraffe Energy to the //Karas Governors Youth Trust. This empowerment breakthrough will unlock unprecedented access for ||Kharas youth to vital skills, training, and opportunities via their equity stake in Giraffe Energy,” Gertze said.


Giraffe Energy commands a 33% interest in Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) 79, located in the Orange Basin adjacent to major oil discoveries and poised for substantial potential amid the basin’s proven hydrocarbon riches. Katti also donated N$1 million in cash to the //Karas Governors Youth Trust, the governor revealed. “These funds will be strategically deployed to uplift and advance our young generation. The deal also galvanises our region to seize local content prospects in oil and gas,” the governor said.


Gertze further revealed that his office had signed a strategic agreement with Quantus Investments for a flagship agricultural development project. The initiative is fundamentally designed to empower the youth, with a core focus on providing comprehensive training and direct employment opportunities. “The project is poised to commence imminently. Its central objective is to actively transform unemployment into sustainable self-employment, equipping participating youth with the practical skills and experience necessary to become entrepreneurial actors within the agricultural value chain upon completion of their training,” the governor explained.


This will be a continuous training programme, guaranteed to run uninterrupted for a period of five years to ensure depth and lasting impact. “This long-term commitment is crucial for building genuine capacity and fostering agribusiness development,” Gertze emphasised. As part of this public-private partnership, the Governor’s Office will receive a dedicated share of the project's yields. “These proceeds will be directly channelled into the Office’s development fund, providing a sustainable revenue stream to maintain and continually support broader youth and community development programmes across the //Kharas Region,” Gertze assured.


Gertze also announced that discussions between his office and that of the NYC had led to the assignment of NYC Regional Coordinator, Emma Drusilla Abed, to his office and resulted in the signing of an MoU. “This secondment was specifically requested to establish a dedicated Youth Desk within the Governor's Office, a critical structure for mainstreaming youth development. Abed has already made significant strides in operationalising this desk,” the governor said.