On 21 August 2025, the Bank of Namibia hosted its inaugural Youth Central Banking Simulation Lab in Windhoek. For the first time, young Namibians stepped directly into the decision-making roles of central bankers—Governors, board members, economists—and were asked to deliberate on questions that cut to the heart of our economic future.

The Lab was created to bring young people closer to the work of central banking, amplify their voices in national economic conversations, and generate fresh ideas. Student teams from the University of Namibia (UNAM), Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), the International University of Management (IUM), and Triumphant College all took part.

The Central Questions

• What do young people envision for the future of Namibia’s currency?
• How can the Bank of Namibia help more young people in rural areas access safe and affordable banking services?

Holding the Conversation

I had the privilege of moderating the session on Namibia’s currency. And sometimes, the best way to enter a complex topic is through humour and honesty.

The room relaxed. Laughter made space for reflection. These questions weren’t trivial. They revealed something deeper: money carries stories. It shapes dignity, access, and belonging in ways we can’t always measure.

The Challenge on the Table

So I asked the youth teams: “When you look ahead to 2050, what story should our currency tell about Namibia? What faces, what symbols, what technologies belong on it? How do we make sure the Namibian Dollar doesn’t just represent our past, but also carries your generation into the future?”

Youth Visions for the Namibian Dollar

Two institutions—NUST and Triumphant College—presented bold ideas, debated trade-offs, and offered visions for what our currency could become. They raised practical solutions: embedding microchips or QR codes in notes, trust-building campaigns for a future e-Namibian Dollar, and youth advisory boards to ensure policy is reachable and responsive.

• Financial literacy is essential—Access without knowledge leads to dependency.
• Transparent communication of monetary policy is non-negotiable—Repo rates and inflation must be explained in plain language.
• Innovation is embraced—Fintech, AI, and digital finance, but youth want it anchored in ethics, regulation, and trust.
• Engagement must be structured, not sporadic—Advisory boards, simulations, and workshops should be sustained platforms, not one-off events.

Why It Matters

By 2050, nearly one in three people under the age of 25 will be African. Many of them may never walk into a bank branch. But talk about mobile money, e-wallets, or digital currencies, and young people are already first movers.

This raises the real question: will we trust an e-Namibian Dollar the same way we trust a torn N$20 note at the corner shop? The Simulation Lab gave us a glimpse of how youth are already grappling with this challenge: designing currencies that carry identity while preparing for futures where money may never even touch our hands.

By role-playing as policymakers, youth participants demystified the central bank, learned how decisions ripple into households, and tested their own capacity to lead under pressure. They carried complexity while asking courageous questions. And in return, the Bank of Namibia modeled something powerful: trust in youth. By opening its processes, the Bank showed that institutions don’t lose authority when they invite youth in. They gain legitimacy.

Forward Momentum

I remain grateful to the Bank of Namibia for its vision and courage. It is no small thing for an institution of such stature to open its doors for a genuine simulation where young people could deliberate, decide, and imagine. That is the future we must build. And it begins in rooms like this, where the next generation rehearsed tomorrow’s central bank.