Niël Terblanché
Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi, the Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation, stressed the fundamental role of education, digital technologies, and heritage preservation in fostering the creative economy.
Kandjii-Murangi said this during the opening of the 2024 Creative Entrepreneurship Academy conference, which is hosted under the theme “The Role of Education in Preserving and Digitising Cultural Heritage.”
“This project seeks to equip Namibian youth with the necessary knowledge in product development, entrepreneurship, the circular economy, and digital technologies,” she said.
The conference is a collaborative initiative between Namibia and Estonia, funded by the Estonian Centre for International Development (EstDEV), which aims to develop heritage-based digital skills and entrepreneurship in Namibia.
It brought together various stakeholders, including representatives from UNESCO, the University of Namibia, and the Estonian Ministry of Culture.
Kandjii-Murangi added that the initiative is a demonstration of the power of international collaboration and its potential to contribute to global development goals, particularly the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Kandjii-Murangi also pointed to the significant impact that the creative economy had on the global stage, noting that it contributed 3.1% of the total global GDP in 2020, generating 50 million jobs worldwide.
“The rapid advancement of digital technologies and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming the cultural and creative industries, creating new opportunities while posing challenges that must be addressed, “she said.
According to the minister, Namibia’s rich cultural heritage, illustrated by the Marula festival and the Nama Ancestral Musical Sound, presents a unique opportunity for the country to leverage its cultural assets in entrepreneurship.
Kandjii-Murangi called on stakeholders to harness this heritage to enhance Namibia’s global competitiveness and create employment opportunities for the youth.
She said the government is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible creative economy that benefits all, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable communities.
Kandjii-Murangi urged Namibia’s higher education institutions and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres to develop digital skills programs tailored to the arts and culture sector that would enable Namibians to compete on a global scale.
The minister expressed hope that the conference would foster valuable exchanges between Namibian and Estonian participants, leading to innovative solutions for addressing the pressing issue of youth unemployment in Namibia.
Kandjii-Murangi said that the 2024 Creative Entrepreneurship Academy Conference will create further collaboration and innovation, positioning Namibia as a key player in the global creative economy.
