The Director of Research in the Ministry of Higher Education, Technology, and Innovation (MHETI), Dr. Lisho Mundia, has called on the private sector to invest in research to solve the country's problems.
Dr. Mundia made the remarks at a Marine Research Conference at Walvis Bay, where he stressed that without research, the country cannot develop.
"Your problems as you sit are all dependent on research output, from the clothing to the diet to the food you eat—everything is research. So, I urge you, colleagues in the private sector and the fishing sector, to invest in the Sam Nujoma campus to find those solutions."
Dr. Mundia, however, says one of the main challenges is a lack of research infrastructure.
"The campus builds on research and on the number of students through the availability of infrastructure. If that infrastructure is lacking, the number will definitely stay stagnant because we do not have computer facilities or laboratories, and as such, we only have to advance that space through investment in our research infrastructure."
While highlighting the need for collaboration, Dr. Mundia indicated that local universities have some of the best brains in the country, which is striving to be a knowledge-based economy.
Dr. Sam Mafwila is the Director of the Sam Nujoma Marine and Coastal Research Centre, and he warned that, "Rising sea levels, ocean acidification, extreme weather events, and overexploitation of resources threaten not only the livelihoods of coastal and inland communities but also the very fabric of our global environment. The need for collaboration, scientific inquiry, and sustainable practices has never been more evident."
Organised by the University of Namibia's Henties Bay campus, the annual event brings together representatives from academia, industry, and government to explore innovative solutions for the marine sector through research.
The two-day conference will tackle topics such as the impact of climate change on marine resources and technological advancements in ocean research.