‘Parents, stop being dictators’

Career expert says young people should choose their own careers Growing up, Adriano Ndemufayo’s (24) fascination with electricity convinced his family he was destined to become an electrical engineer. But when he struggled with mathematics and physical science required for the profession, he began questioning whether this was something he could pursue. “I would dismantle broken torches, remove their bulbs, mount them on wooden boards and build electrical circuits. In Grade 12, I had an E for mathematics and a C for physical science. I believed my options for university admission were limited,” he says. Ndemufayo’s family wanted him to enrol at the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (Nimt). Although he initially shared his family’s dream, Ndemufayo chose a different path – human resources management.

His decision was met with resistance from his uncle, who said he would not pay for Ndemufayo’s studies, unless it involved electrical engineering. “The night before registration, he told me to go to Nimt, otherwise I would be on my own. I told him to keep his money, I don’t need it. I stood my ground and chose HR,” he says. Today, Ndemufayo says he has coached more than 300 jobseekers and professionals through his business. “This didn’t happen because HR made it easy, but because I chose a path I was passionate about, helping people and creating opportunities, even when I wasn’t being paid,” he says. PASSION SHOULD GUIDE CAREERS Career expert Joab Wileinge warns that pursuing careers chosen by parents can leave young people frustrated, leading to dropping out of tertiary institutions, low productivity, and failure. He says young people should choose their own careers based on their interests and aspirations, adding they are more likely to commit to their studies…