The Minister of Higher Education, Technology, and Innovation expressed optimism for the future of preserving heritage.

Dr. Itah Kandjii-Murangi, speaking at the opening of the heritage-growing digital conference, emphasised the importance of advancing the creative industry through digitalisation while preserving its heritage, with the goal of not just creating employment opportunities for the youth but also developing a skilled and employable workforce for the industry.

This initiative seeks to enhance the educational experience by equipping creative arts students with the necessary skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy while simultaneously preserving and promoting Namibia's rich cultural heritage. 

By incorporating digital literacy and entrepreneurship into the educational framework, the conference aspires to create a more dynamic and innovative learning environment across Namibia.

"We have many young people that are gifted in this field of arts or the creative industry, but we lack truly formalised training for them to access education in those different streams of the creative industry, but with a partnership such as this that is anchored within our higher education institutions, one sees the light at the end of the tunnel. The good thing about the creative industry is, as I said earlier, that each one of us is carrying something of our heritage that we are passionate about; all you need to do is just peel the layers properly and allow that passion that be anchored with your cultural heritage to surface."

Estonia, known for its advanced digital education and successful integration of cultural heritage into modern curricula, shared its experiences and best practices at the conference.

The Estonian Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Märt Volmer, emphasised the significance of collaboration.

"This cooperation is led by the NGO and Estonia and engages UNESCO, the national commission in Estonia and Namibia, as well as academia in both countries. The University of Tartu and the University of Namibia. I am confident that the broad-base intersectoral cooperation that brings together stakeholders from civil society, international and government agencies, academia, and the private sector contributes to further ties with the different countries."

The conference was attended by creative entrepreneurs, academics, and stakeholders from various sectors, all dedicated to the advancement of education in Namibia.