Windhoek recently became the gathering point for a generation ready to take charge of Namibia's green future.

The Green Industries Youth Forum, better known as GIYF Namibia, brought students, young professionals, academic institutions, and industry stakeholders together under one roof to tackle a question that matters deeply to this country's tomorrow - how do young Namibians plug into the youth green economy before the opportunities pass them by.

The timing could not be more urgent.

With Namibia steadily positioning itself as one of Africa's most promising players in renewable energy and green hydrogen, the gap between where young talent currently stands and where the industry needs them has never been more visible.

GIYF was conceived and driven by students, a detail that sets it apart from the usual top-down industry event.

The forum was hosted and organised by the University of Namibia's Physics Society, with the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management serving as an official co-host.

The Namibia University of Science and Technology's Mechanical Engineering Society and the International University of Management's Energy Development and Management Society also co-organised the event, reflecting a rare moment of cross-institutional collaboration.

What made the forum stand out was the breadth of its conversation.

Speakers and participants pushed back against the assumption that green industries only need engineers, arguing that the sector demands a far wider range of skills — from technology and cybersecurity to communications and community outreach.

That shift in thinking marks a turning point for how Namibia approaches youth inclusion in its industrial strategy.

Technical presentations, keynote sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities gave attendees direct access to professionals shaping the country's energy landscape.

Saimi Amutenya, founder and director of GIYF Namibia, said the platform was built precisely because young people were too often excluded from the industry conversations that would define their futures.

Her message to participants carried both gratitude and a clear sense of mission - that empowering the next generation of industrial pioneers is not optional, it is essential.

The forum arrives at a moment when momentum around youth and green energy in Namibia is clearly building, with fresh programmes and ambassador initiatives emerging across the country's 14 regions to carry green hydrogen awareness from Windhoek to every community.

GIYF is adding its voice to that growing movement, ensuring that the pipeline of young talent is not just trained but connected, inspired, and ready to lead.