NUST and Shell Strengthen Namibia’s Energy Expertise
The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) is strengthening its contribution to Namibia’s emerging energy sector through a strategic partnership with Shell, focused on developing specialised skills and building the country’s technical capacity.
Since June 2025, the partnership has provided specialised training to 150 NUST engineering students through three Oil and Gas programmes, covering areas including Petroleum Geoscience and Formation Evaluation. On 24 August, a Shell delegation paid a courtesy visit to the NUST Vice-Chancellor, Professor Frednard Gideon. Speaking at a stakeholder engagement meeting, Prof Gideon highlighted the relevance of the partnership at a critical time for Namibia, noting that the development of specialised skills is essenAal as the country positions itself to harness opportunities emerging from its energy sector.
The training programmes are designed to complement students’ academic foundations with practical industry knowledge and exposure, enhancing their readiness for an evolving Oil and Gas landscape.
Beyond student training, the partnership is also laying the foundation for deeper institutional collaboration. Shell Namibia Country Chair Eduardo Rodriguez said that Shell is open to supporting the establishment of a proposed Centre of Excellence at NUST, which will focus on three strategic areas:
-
Marine and Offshore Engineering
-
Environmental Management and Control
-
Geosciences and Petroleum Engineering
Prof Maduako Okorie, Head of the Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Electrical Engineering at NUST, said the programmes provide students with both foundational industry knowledge and practical insights relevant to Namibia’s emerging energy industry. The skills development component of the partnership will continue with the fourth programme, An Introduction to Wells Engineering, scheduled for 21–25 September 2026.
As Namibia’s energy landscape continues to evolve, NUST and Shell’s collaboration demonstrates the value of academia-industry partnerships in ensuring that the country’s greatest resource opportunity is matched by an equally strong investment in Namibian knowledge, skills and expertise.
