In an effort to help students learn more about the role of the oil and gas sector in the national economy, the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia launched a national essay competition for grade 9 to 12 pupils inspiring them to study natural science subjects at institutions of higher learning.
BW Kudu, a company interested in Namibia’s natural resources believes that the competition is an opportunity for pupils to increase their awareness of the oil and gas sector in the national economy. However, the company encourages pupils to study further in natural sciences.
The on-going competition seeks pupils with interest in the subject to write essays under the theme ‘how do we best develop our natural gas resources for the future of Namibia’.
Students have been encouraged to submit their entries as a 1 000-word essay or a two-minute video, podcast, poster or animation and stand a chance to win a prize. The organisers will therefore select 14 winners (one winner from each region) and each winner will receive N$3 000 plus N$4 000 for their school while top three winners will also each receive a new laptop for school studies.
While speaking during a media briefing, BW Kudu general manager Klaus Endresen said he hopes the competition will spark interest in energy-related issues among Namibian pupils.
In his own words, Endresen said: “Namibia is endowed with great natural resources that can be used in a responsible way and generate income and jobs for the country.”
