The Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare, Doreen Sioka, officially inaugurated the Likwaterera Early Childhood Development Centre in the Kavango East Region.

Since 2016, learners at the centre used to attend classes in thatched houses until these were destroyed by a hailstorm last year.

The Likwaterera Early Childhood Development Centre caters to children from marginalised backgrounds.

Women in business have been urged to establish cooperatives that would enhance their enterprises through business-to-business networking.

This call was made by Doreen Sioka, the Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare, during a meeting with businesswomen in Rosh Pinah.

Sioka emphasised that informal businesses play a significant role in contributing to the country's developmental objectives. By forming cooperatives and engaging in business networking, women can further enhance the impact and success of their ventures.

The Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare has called on the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to expedite the passing of the Cybercrime Bill to protect children while online.

Doreen Sioka made the remarks at the commemoration of the Day of the African Child at Rosh Pinah in the ||Kharas Region.

According to UNICEF's 2020 report, 9% of Namibia's population between the ages of 12 and 17 has experienced online sexual abuse and exploitation.