By Immanuel Sheehama, Namibian Entrepreneur *As Namibia intensifies its mission to empower youth and stimulate local business growth, it is crucial to re-examine how inclusive and practical these empowerment policies truly are. Take, for example, the recruitment policies of Namibia’s uniformed forces, which often cap entry at a certain age. This same exclusion is mirrored in youth funding schemes, SME grants, and other economic empowerment programmes that stop abruptly at age 35. It is essential that policymakers begin to meaningfully engage local business people — those who understand first-hand what works and what does not. By involving them in the design of empowerment programmes, Namibia can ensure its policies are not only well-meaning but also effective, realistic, and fair.