The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and Impact Tank Analysis Foundation yesterday inked a deal to collaborate on creating transformative, self-sustaining, digital programmes to accelerate employment in the digital and technology space.
MICT and Impact Tank, through this partnership, will inspire digital transformation in Namibia by creating inspirational, self-sustaining social businesses that build and reinforce digital skills, generate incomes and bring national attention to Namibia and demystify and advocate for software development and high-skilled digital work as approachable, viable and valuable career options among others. The agreement will last for five years, subject to renewal.
“As the ministry of ICT, we are committed to continuously adding our part to transform our nation in ensuring that we have the necessary skills in the country to respond to the market needs. More importantly, to ensure that the young people who are seen as digital natives have the opportunities to have digital skills to ensure that they are employed and self-sustaining,” said Emma Theofelus, deputy minister of ICT at the signing ceremony.
Given the present economic conditions, which present difficulties that necessitate practical solutions, this agreement has seen a need to expedite progress and incorporate digital technologies to effectively address these challenges.
“For us, this collaboration does exactly that, the dent we will make in addressing unemployment, particularly among youth, will be far-reaching, into numbers and location.
“This collaboration further speaks to MICT’s role and commitment in not only speaking about tech, digitalisation, and youth unemployment but practically doing the work and mobilising the necessary resources to ensure Namibians become digitally literate, have jobs that are future fit, and can compete internationally,” explained the CEO of Impact Tank Analysis Foundation, Elzine Mushambi.
The executive director in the ministry of information, Audrin Mathe also commended the private sector’s effort in collaborating with the public sector to address crucial issues such as unemployment. – ashikololo@nepc.com.na