The Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, has urged the youth to harness the positive power of the internet and embrace digital skills to drive entrepreneurship and economic growth.
She made the call at the launch of the #Khai re National Digital Scholarship Programme at Aus Settlement in the ||Kharas Region.
The programme seeks to train one-thousand ICT learners and business practitioners annually.
It will also facilitate the empowerment of 200 women in technology development and support youth-focused ICT technical training initiatives across Namibia over the next five years.
The programme will also support the country's digital transformation agenda as well as its development goals.
“A Namibian digital economy cannot be sustained without nurturing our talent. Skilling Namibian youth, and especially young women, that definitely will be growing the knowledge pool of Namibians, who can build the solutions for Namibia by Namibians to uplift the goals we have set ourselves in the National Development Plan Number. So, people of Aus, young people, women, and men. Your government cares for you; your government sees you. So, let us work together and #Khai re.”
Nampa’s Acting CEO Jata Kazondu explained that the programme is spearheaded in collaboration with Huawei and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.
“We will continue providing monitoring and evaluation. So, we are committed to ensuring that this particular partnership is a success. A lot of the hard work actually starts only here after. After we do the celebrations and launch.”
Nampa’s board chairperson Kaulikalelwa Nghishitende added.
“Namibia is steadily keeping up with the digital care as evident by the various digitalisation programmes led by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to ensure that Namibia is digitalised and not left behind while the world moves forward in this regard.”
Board Director of Huawei Jason Xu gave an overview of the company’s involvement.
“Our objective is to keep bridging the gap between academic training and practical skills required by employers while keeping young Namibians closer to internationally recognised ICT qualifications.”