Namibia has a young population, which is why the government will focus on empowering the youth to drive the country’s digital transformation.
This was highlighted by minister of information and communication technology Emma Theofelus at the 2024 National Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Summit yesterday.
“Today, we dedicate our focus to young people and the role they have to play in the ICT space . . . According to the latest census, the Namibian population is predominantly young and we need to offer them these platforms,” she said.
The 2024 National ICT Summit kicked off at a hotel in Windhoek on Monday, bringing together stakeholders, investors and young people to discuss the way forward for the ICT space in Namibia.
The focus was on the youth at yesterday’s event, providing a platform for young Namibians to showcase their innovative ideas and connect with industry experts during a hackathon.
“Moreover, this platform presents the youth with opportunities in terms of mentorship and possible collaboration on developing their innovation and ICT ecosystem,” the minister said.
She said the purpose of the hackathon is to tap into the skills of Namibians and demonstrate that the government has trust in its own talent and promotes the use of home-grown technologies.
She said the summit will ensure media platforms improve service delivery through the development of a secure online registration portal for media practitioners, including a publicly accessible media register and feedback mechanism for government agencies.
The minister called on academia, industry leaders and financial institutions to support young people in their endeavours.
“Government on its own cannot assist these great minds and innovations; it should be a collective effort between the public and the private sector,” she said.
To complement its efforts to empower young people, the government is also actively promoting digitalisation through various initiatives.
One such initiative is the Ikumwe Tower project, which aims to improve internet connectivity in rural areas.
“Ikumwe Tower was completed in exactly three months, as planned. This is a clear demonstration that the government of the Republic of Namibia is resolute in connecting the last mile, and that our investment in network infrastructure will position Namibia to adapt and not die in the era of digital transformation and artificial intelligence,” Theofelus said.
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