Namibia’s digital transformation must translate into tangible economic opportunities, job creation and poverty reduction, Executive Director of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Linda Nakale has said, as the country prepares to use technology to address some of its most pressing socio-economic challenges.
Speaking in Ongwediva, Oshana Region, on 13 October 2026, while unpacking the theme of the 9th National ICT Summit, “Harnessing ICT for Inclusive Growth: Digital Pathways to Reduce Unemployment and Eradicate Poverty,”Nakale said technology must move beyond infrastructure and software development to improve the livelihoods of ordinary Namibians. She described the decision to host the summit outside Windhoek as a significant step towards decentralising digital innovation and ensuring that regional communities also benefit from technological advancement.
Nakale explained that inclusive digital growth requires reliable internet connectivity, affordable data, digital literacy and access to technological tools, particularly for rural communities, small businesses and marginalised groups. She noted that information and communication technology (ICT) could create employment opportunities through software development, digital entrepreneurship, online content creation and remote work, enabling young people to move from job seekers to job creators. She also highlighted how digital platforms could help small-scale farmers, local traders, artisans and traditional craft producers access wider markets, connect with customers and improve their incomes.
Using examples from the Oshana Region, Nakale illustrated how internet access could transform local economic activities. A clay-pot producer in Uuvuthiya Constituency, for instance, could use digital platforms to compare market prices, communicate with buyers and sell products more efficiently. Similarly, a graduate in Okatyali Constituency could access online training, apply for jobs nationwide, work remotely or establish a digital enterprise serving clients locally and internationally. She said such opportunities demonstrated how technology could overcome geographical barriers and expand economic participation.
The four-day summit is expected to bring together policymakers, technology companies, academics, financial institutions, development partners and grassroots innovators to develop practical solutions for Namibia’s digital transformation. Nakale said the discussions should produce actionable frameworks, stronger cross-sector partnerships and measurable outcomes rather than remain at the level of theory. Key priorities include expanding broadband coverage, reducing data costs, integrating digital literacy into the education system, strengthening public-private partnerships and exploring the use of artificial intelligence to improve productivity across local industries.
Youth empowerment is also expected to feature prominently, particularly through the Youth Day Hackathon, which aims to showcase innovative, youth-led digital solutions to community challenges. Nakale said the initiative could help connect emerging innovators with investment, business incubation and other opportunities to turn their ideas into viable enterprises. She added that hosting the summit in the north should encourage government institutions and technology companies to extend investment beyond Windhoek, stimulate regional economic activity and strengthen Namibia’s competitiveness in the digital economy.
While acknowledging progress in areas such as broadband expansion, e-government services, digital skills development and innovation, Nakale emphasised that inclusive digital growth would require sustained cooperation between government, industry, academia, civil society and young innovators. She stressed that the success of digital transformation should not be measured solely by the number of technologies introduced, but by the extent to which they improve people’s lives, expand access to opportunities and create sustainable livelihoods.
Nakale urged summit participants to prioritise solutions that can be implemented, expanded and sustained across all regions, ensuring that rural communities and disadvantaged groups are not excluded from the benefits of technological progress. She said technology alone would not eliminate unemployment or eradicate poverty, but its effective use through innovation, collaboration and inclusion could help build a more prosperous and digitally empowered Namibia.
