Ladislaus Shikerete leads the charge for a sustainable Namibian future with Wapa-Nawa

From Shighuru village in northern Namibia’s Kavango region to the helm of one of the country’s most forward-thinking businesses, Ladislaus Shikerete, CEO of the Wapa-Nawa Recycling Centre, is testament to the power of vision, determination and a strong sense of community-minded purpose.Born in 1990, Shikerete began his education at Neyuva Combined School before completing secondary school at Maria Mwengere Secondary School in 2008. He later studied agriculture at the University of Namibia.“I always imagined being a farmer,” Shikerete said, “but with God’s will, this led me to become the proud CEO of an environmental sustainability centre.”Wapa-Nawa Recycling Centre was inspired by a simple but troubling observation: the overwhelming plastic waste littering northern Namibian towns. Having worked for nine years as a landscaper at the Rundu Town Council, Shikerete was directly involved in waste management and saw firsthand the urgent need for long-term solutions.“It really triggered the idea as a way to come up with a sustainable solution to plastic waste," he explained.Wapa-Nawa Recycling Centre, founded on the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle, was born from a desire to make a positive contribution to environmental sustainability, Shikerete said. He added that he was determined to help Namibia reclaim its place as one of Africa’s cleanest nations, a title it once held before Rwanda took the lead.“What really inspired us was the question of what we can do positively to help environmental sustainability, especially considering the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," he explained.Awareness through innovationRecognising that environmental education is essential, Wapa-Nawa goes beyond waste collection to raise awareness. Through Wapa-Nawa TV, the centre uses storytelling and digital content to teach communities and learners about recycling. It also runs school outreach programmes aimed at inspiring young people to take environmental responsibility seriously.“One of our biggest challenges is the mindset of our people. Many still view recycling as ‘odd jobs.’ Even some municipalities do not fully understand its importance,” he pointed out.“That’s why education is at the core of our work.”Shikerete leads with a bottom-up approach, ensuring that every team member is involved in decision-making and aligned with the centre’s vision from the outset.Under his leadership, Wapa-Nawa has achieved national recognition, earning awards such as the NIPDB Award (2022), Old Mutual Seed Capital (2024), and the DBN Good Business Award (2025). One of the centre’s most groundbreaking accomplishments is constructing Namibia's first-ever brick house made entirely from recycled plastic without using cement or water.Looking aheadShikerete envisions Wapa-Nawa expanding across all 14 regions of Namibia. He said the Kavango Region, where the centre began, has already witnessed a shift in attitudes toward recycling and environmental care. Collaborations with stakeholders such as universities, schools and municipalities continue to grow, strengthening the impact of the initiative.Shikerete shared one piece of advice for future changemakers: “Always understand the Environmental Sustainable Goals. And if I could go back, I wish I had taken a course specifically in recycling much earlier.”Through his leadership and grassroots commitment, Shikerete proves that sustainable change doesn’t begin in boardrooms – it begins on the ground, with community, vision and a passion for impact.

Ladislaus Shikerete leads the charge for a sustainable Namibian future with Wapa-Nawa

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Republikein 2025-12-19

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Ladislaus Shikerete leads the charge for a sustainable Namibian future with Wapa-Nawa

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