OM SEED wraps up with Kunene’s top innovators

Namibia is already feeling the true cost effects of climate change. It's no longer theoretical. Unpredictable weather, increasing droughts, and unpredictable seasons are already changing how we farm, build, invest, and make plans for the future. Agriculture, energy, insurance, and infrastructure sectors are especially exposed. In the countryside of the developing world, agriculture provides the main source of income, but when rains do not come or heatwaves hit, harvests fall, livestock perish, and families lose earnings. It doesn't just hurt families, it hurts banks, insurers, and investors alike, as loans are not paid back and claims accumulate. For the insurance industry, climatic event claims are increasing and cost more. As dangers escalate, policies become more expensive or less available. Insurers are now reassessing how they price risk, taking advantage of new data analytics and innovative products like parametric insurance to hedge against climate-related events. The energy industry tells a different story. Namibia has long relied on imported electricity, making the country vulnerable to external shocks. But with vast potential for green hydrogen, solar, and wind energy, Namibia also has the potential to be a clean energy pioneer. Renewable investment can help enhance regional supply, create jobs, and gain access to new markets for regional exports. Green hydrogen, for one, has already started piquing the interest of foreign investors and could place Namibia in the global picture as one of the region's most important clean energy producers. The Old Mutual Foundation is proud to announce the top three winners from the Kunene Region in the final chapter of the Old Mutual Sustainable, Economic and Empowerment Drive (OM SEED), marking the close of a four-year journey that has championed grassroots entrepreneurship across Namibia. Taking first place is Joseph Edison Nauiseb, founder of JNZ Trading Enterprises, a welding, metal fabrication, carpentry, and joinery business delivering high-quality craftsmanship to meet community and commercial needs. In second place is Tina Kakurukaze Jeremia, owner of Teumu TKJ Trading Enterprises cc, whose creative blend of crocheting and catering reflects both artistic skill and service excellence.Third place went to Tweyanombili, founder of Tweya Innovation, a manufacturing enterprise that transforms old tyres into durable chairs and other furniture, marrying environmental sustainability with innovation. This year’s OM SEED initiative, themed “Rooted in Growth for Sustainability,” received 116 applications across the four targeted regions: Omaheke, Otjozondjupa, Omusati, and Kunene. The shortlisting and final evaluations were carried out in collaboration with strategic partner, the Financial Literacy Initiative (FLI), and knowledge partner, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), ensuring a fair, transparent, and impact-driven process. “OM SEED embodies Old Mutual Foundation’s commitment to enabling economic participation through sustainable entrepreneurship. Under our Community Development pillar, we strive to create opportunities for inclusive growth, empowering individuals to transform ideas into businesses that uplift entire communities,” said Mignon du Preez, Group Marketing, Public Affairs and Sustainability Executive at Old Mutual Namibia. “OM SEED has been more than a competition – it has been a platform for resilience, creativity, and community upliftment. Over the years, we’ve witnessed ordinary individuals grow into business leaders whose impact extends far beyond their own livelihoods. While this chapter closes, our commitment to empowering Namibians to realise their entrepreneurial potential remains stronger than ever,” Du Preez shared. Over its lifespan, OM SEED has invested in and mentored over 40 grassroots entrepreneurs, providing seed capital, business training, and ongoing guidance to help turn ambitions into thriving enterprises. The programme has not only strengthened local economies but also created ripple effects of job creation, skills development, and social impact across the country. As the OM SEED journey concludes, the Old Mutual Foundation celebrates every innovator, dreamer, and doer who has been part of this transformative initiative – and reaffirms its commitment to supporting the next generation of Namibian entrepreneurs through new and evolving platforms.

OM SEED wraps up with Kunene’s top innovators

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Republikein 2025-08-21

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OM SEED wraps up with Kunene’s top innovators

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