Ankama spells out expectations for NAMFI

Otis Finck



Namibia as an upcoming seafaring nation wants to see that the Namibian Maritime and Fisheries Institute (NAMFI) provides internationally recognised training for seagoing personnel, thereby contributing to the development of the maritime and fisheries sector for national economic development, says the deputy minister of fisheries and marine resources, Chief Samuel Ankama.

Ankama officially opened the NAMFI strategic review workshop in Otjiwarongo recently and appealed to both trustees and management to take cognisance of an ever-changing environment when reviewing and updating the organisation's strategic plan. He also challenged the team to make deliberate efforts to position NAMFI well in an ever technologically changing fishing and maritime industry.

“We talk about 'Namibia being a fishing nation', and indeed that is what we all want, but we are not yet there if we compare ourselves with the developed fishing nations of the world. We must reposition ourselves to get there. NAMFI does not have feeder schools in the country for studentship recruitment. This is only possible if we as a country explicitly infuse fisheries and marine subjects in our education curriculum from grade one upwards, thereby enticing learners at an early age to want to take up fisheries and marine careers as they grow up.”

The deputy minister also pointed out that considerable effort must be made for NAMFI to unlock value in the local blue economy.

“The institute must position itself to offer wealth, knowledge, skills and information which our fishing and maritime industry urgently needs. It goes without saying, NAMFI must position itself strategically as the sole maritime and fisheries training provider in the country.”

Ankama further said he was delighted that NAMFI was striving to comply with good cooperate governance by reviewing and updating the strategic plan on a regular basis since it was one of its important governance instruments.

“It is of paramount importance during the review that the provision of NDP5, HPP, other national policies and laws are considered. I am happy to notice that the document is crafted to address the needs of our fishing and maritime industry and it also seeks to unlock prospective opportunities existing in the maritime industry in the same vein.”

Ankama explained that NAMFI was established by the ministry in 1996 under a Deed of Trust (1996) and said it is also classified as a state-owned enterprise (SOE) under the SOE Act of 2006.

“The management of NAMFI is subjected to the lawful direction of the trustees from time to time, hence the review and update of the Strategic Plan. Being an SOE, NAMFI is also required to comply with key statutory laws governing the SOEs. Therefore trustees and/or management are required to comply with such laws.”

Ankama applauded the trustees and management for producing an excellent document, and said it has undoubtedly been assisting NAMFI management in the administration of the institute.

“Your strategic ingenuity and insights of NAMFI's business is well noted and I would like to appeal to you to do the same during the review process. The ministry has made it a priority for all SOEs falling under its jurisdiction to fully comply with both the statutes establishing them, individually as well as the SOE Act of 2006 which governs the state-owned enterprises.”