By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Namibia’s
Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, has met
with Namibian students who participated in the Seeds for the Future Programme
in China, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s cybersecurity capacity
and digital resilience.
The
meeting took place on Monday, where the students presented an innovative
cybersecurity project developed during the programme. The initiative is aimed
at addressing emerging digital threats and contributing to Namibia’s long-term
cyber readiness.
During
the engagement, the students appealed for mentorship and support from public
enterprises, telecommunications companies and financial institutions to further
develop and scale their solution. They said such support would be critical in
translating their ideas into practical tools that can enhance national and
institutional cybersecurity.
Minister
Theofelus commended the students for their innovation and encouraged them to
apply their skills to solving local challenges. She stressed the importance of
home-grown talent in safeguarding Namibia’s digital ecosystem, urging the young
innovators to focus on solutions that respond to Namibian needs.
The
Minister also expressed optimism about the potential for the project to grow
beyond national borders, noting that successful local innovations could be
expanded regionally to support broader digital resilience across Southern
Africa.
The
engagement forms part of the Ministry’s broader efforts to promote skills
development, innovation and youth participation in Namibia’s digital
transformation agenda.