Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation, Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi participated in the tripartite UNESCO-Africa-China High-level Virtual Dialogue in response to the COVID-19 challenges in Africa. Kandjii-Murangi said COVID-19 has invoked desperation by upending the accepted visions and norms and pushed humanity into survival mode. She added that it has also changed the way of living and reshaped daily routines. She noted that, despite Africa's rich natural resources, COVID-19 has shown the vulnerability of African economies, adding that it is evident that African countries are at the mercy of societies that are more prolific and efficient in producing new knowledge, new products and new services, all which are imported at a high cost to Africa, without empowering Africans through education, industrial development, employment among others. "Akin to other countries globally, Namibia is adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic", said Kandjii-Murangi. The state of emergency and subsequent lockdown gravely affected industries, the economy, tourism, education, health and livelihoods. Informal economic sectors which are the main providers of livelihoods for the majority in Namibia were disrupted, she said. Kandjii-Murangi said the indefinite closure of universities and tertiary institutions caused unprecedented disruptions to the academic calendar, effective methods of teaching and learning were employed to ensure continued access to education. These include the migration of lessons and programs to online mode. The minister said China's proactiveness on the use of high technologies in fighting the pandemic and quick response made a difference and turned the tide of COVID-19. These include the deployment of drones to transport medical supplies to hospitals and localities where such supplies were acutely required. She, however, pointed out that Namibia needs the revival of industries, tourism and the economy and to address unemployment, particularly among the youth, strengthen the health system through new technologies, develop a robust IT infrastructure, among others. She called on UNESCO and other global, continental and regional bodies to take the lead in facilitating platforms for nations to explore and create nexus and synergies during COVID-19 and post COVID-19. She further added that the onus is on us to reach and connect with each other, to build the needed resilient systems in our countries. Kandjii-Murangi said this during the UNESCO-Africa-China High-level virtual dialogue for Supporting Priority Africa in the COVID-19 and Post-COVID Context.