Niël Terblanché
The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) convened a senior leadership retreat in Okahandja to review and align the strategic objectives of the ministry and its public entities, with a focus on leveraging ICT to address pressing national issues.
The event brought together the ministry’s executives and public enterprise board leaders.
In her opening address, ICT Minister Emma Theofelus stressed the importance of devising effective strategies to alleviate unemployment, poverty, and the high cost of living through the digital economy.
“Over the next few days, our discussions should focus on how our industry can contribute to alleviating unemployment, poverty, and the high cost of living. This is possible through the digital economy. It is our responsibility to harness the power of ICT to create jobs and foster economic growth,” she said.
Theofelus highlighted the Ministry’s mandate to lay the foundation for accelerated ICT use and development in Namibia and to coordinate information management within the government.
She stressed that all efforts must remain people-centred, aimed at uplifting the lives of Namibians and inspiring hope for the future.
“We know that ICT will be the cornerstone of tomorrow’s society. Therefore, it is the tool through which we can bridge gaps, create opportunities, and inspire a new generation filled with hope and optimism,” she said.
The minister encouraged open dialogue during the retreat, urging participants to leverage their collective wisdom to address common challenges.
A key focus of the retreat is the upcoming ICT summit, which Theofelus described as a high-level event aimed at fostering business engagements and partnerships and driving substantial progress in the ICT sector.
She stressed the importance of sharing resources and avoiding duplication of efforts to maximise impact while conserving scarce resources.
“In today’s global economy, countries increasingly partner to procure goods and services, leveraging their bilateral relations to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. These partnerships open up new avenues for innovation, growth, and development,” she added, while also encouraging the exploration and exploitation of opportunities within Namibia’s bilateral relations.
Theofelus reiterated the need for visible, tangible impacts from the Ministry’s efforts as the country enters the second quarter of the financial year.
She invoked the wisdom of President Hage Geingob, stressing the importance of maintaining open, honest, and constructive communication to avoid discord and infighting within the institutions.
“Leadership is a catalyst for change, which is what we are tasked with. We are all driving this country from wherever we serve. The entire country depends on our leadership, and we have to deliver on our mandate,” she said.
The retreat will also address specific programmes and projects, including the merger of the Namibia Press Agency and New Era, and the dismantling of the Namibia Post and Telecommunications Holdings.
Theofelus reiterated the role of government institutions in devising strategies to address contemporary challenges and urged participants to focus on how the ICT sector can contribute to alleviating unemployment, poverty, and the high cost of living through the digital economy.
The retreat, set to end on Friday, is expected to produce new strategies and collaborative efforts to drive the ICT sector forward and enhance its contribution to Namibia’s socio-economic development.
