Namibia’s Kezia wins with Atoms Empowering Africa
Thirteen youngsters from six African countries – including Namibia’s Kezia Henkert – have been recognised for their creative exploration of nuclear technologies’ past, present, and future in Rosatom’s annual “Atoms Empowering Africa” video competition.Now in its eighth year, the initiative aims to inspire young Africans to engage with nuclear science and technology as drivers of the continent’s sustainable future.
This year’s competition invited participants to submit short videos reflecting on three creative themes: “The honour of the past”, “The inspiration of the present” and “The dream of the future”.
In celebration of 80 years of the Russian nuclear industry, the competition encouraged entrants to examine the legacy of nuclear innovation, highlight current applications, and imagine future possibilities.
Open to students and young professionals aged 18 to 35, the 2025 edition received over 50 entries from across Africa — a testament to the growing enthusiasm among African youth for the role of nuclear technologies in meeting today's challenges.
A panel of international experts, including judges from South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Namibia, Burkina Faso and Burundi ensured a fair and equitable evaluation process, based on four criteria: originality and novelty of the idea, artistic and conceptual creativity, relevance to the competition’s core themes, and overall production quality, including visual execution and editing.
“This year’s participants impressed us with the depth of their ideas and the quality of their work,” said Ryan Collyer, CEO of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa. “As we commemorate 80 years of the Russian nuclear industry, it is incredible to see young Africans engage so thoughtfully with this theme. These voices are not just telling compelling stories; they are helping shape a vision of the future grounded in sustainability, innovation, and scientific exchange.”
Winners, including Kezia, will travel to Russia, where they will visit nuclear industry sites, including the Atom Pavilion at VDNKh in Moscow.