The future of the communications profession depends on trust, ethical leadership, innovation and regional cooperation, with communication urged to take the lead in combating misinformation and rebuilding public confidence in institutions.
This is what Vice President Lucia Witbooi said as she officially opened the second Effective Communicators Conference held at Swakopmund under the theme "Communication Reconsidered, A Driving Force of Constant Progress".
Vice President Witbooi said the conference should produce a guiding framework to strengthen the credibility of the communication profession, adapt to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and ensure African stories are told from an African perspective.
In an era increasingly shaped by digital transformation and misinformation, she said communicators have a responsibility to ensure that facts, truth and clarity prevail over false narratives.
She urged delegates to use the conference to adopt shared professional standards from regional counterparts and strengthen Namibia's communication ecosystem through collaboration, knowledge sharing and innovation.
"I encourage you to participate fully, share your unique experiences, and utilise the tools you will acquire here. Once again, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the organisers and facilitators who have made this event possible. I wish you all highly productive and engaging deliberations over the coming days."
She called on the government's communicators to play a critical role in advancing the country's Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) by improving public awareness, institutional coordination, digital inclusion and community engagement.
The Vice President of Botswana, Ndaba Gaolathe, called on Africans to take ownership of the continent's story, saying Africa's greatest challenge is not a lack of achievement but a lack of authorship.
"Let Africa rise with the gifts of those who came before us. Let us rise above the borders drawn on maps and the boundaries carried in our minds. Let us rise by calling forth the finest in one another, weaving our separate strengths into one continental purpose."
The three-day conference focuses on professional development, ethical communication, artificial intelligence, public relations and strategies to counter misinformation while strengthening public trust.