Technology for Good Podcast: Hon. Emma Inamutila Theofelus – Deputy Minister of the ICT Ministry, Namibia
The world of information and communication technologies (ICTs) can sometimes feel like the human body, with all its different parts. Some work autonomously, others need help to stay virus free, and for most it takes a real expert to understand how they work. One thing we do know is that we rely heavily on them and really feel it when they stop working.
The ITU Technology for Good podcast series looks at technological challenges and opportunities through the eyes of some incredible and inspirational women in tech, in the run up to and during the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, also known as PP-22.
According to Emma Theofelus, Namibia’s Deputy Minister of ICTs and one of Africa’s youngest cabinet ministers, the fourth industrial revolution is the opportunity women have been waiting for. It is their time to “self-actualize and make sure their dreams become a reality,” with the help of technology. For Theofelus, technology can support the growing potential not only of women but also of countries like Namibia to innovate and even preserve the planet.
“I think we have seen that technology has its pros and cons. As the world is becoming a global village, we also have to deal with waste from technological products that are becoming a growing concern, especially for the sustainability of our planet. I think there is an opportunity to innovate, and technology has proven itself as a catalyst for innovation… using technology as an opportunity to preserve the planet.
Hon. Emma Inamutila Theofelus, Deputy Minister of the ICT Ministry, Namibia
For 5 episodes of Technology for Good, we are focusing on technological challenges and opportunities through the eyes of some incredible and inspirational women in tech, in the run up to and during the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, or PP-22. This major event will gather policymakers from ITU’s 193 member states to take decisions that will shape the future of technology, making it greener, more gender and youth inclusive and more accessible to everyone on our planet.
This podcast is the eighteenth episode of Technology for Good- an ITU podcast series that focuses on how technology is helping to shape the world around us.
Listen now…and don’t forget to like and subscribe to be among the first to hear the next episode!
Available on Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more.
Presented and Directed by: Maximillian Jacobson-Gonzalez
Co-presented by: Sophiyat Sadiq
Produced and Edited by: Gianluca Allaria
Production Assistants: Tiziana Balleste, Martina Camellini, Adeleh Mojtahed
TRANSCRIPT
Technology for Good – Hon. Emma Inamutila Theofelus – Deputy Minister of the ICT Ministry, Namibia
Interviewers:
Maximillian Jacobson-Gonzalez, Senior Communications Officer, ITU
Sophiyat Sadiq: Generation Connect Youth Envoy, ITU
Maximillian Jacobson-Gonzalez:
Welcome to ITU’s flagship podcast series Technology for Good. I am Max Jacobson-Gonzalez and I’m Senior Communications Officer at ITU, for the past 11 years or so I have been interviewing plenty of interesting people in the worlds of technology, technological innovation, government, academia… from fledgling entrepreneurs to Presidents and Prime Ministers, from chiefs of industry giants to young people taking their first steps towards scientific or engineering careers and even Hollywood film stars, but to balance things out a bit for the next five episodes of Technology for Good, which we have decided to devote to Women in Tech, I am going to be joined by different female co-presenters for every episode and today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Sophiyat Sadiq. Sophiyat, why don’t you tell our listeners a bit about yourself?
Sophiyat Sadiq:
Hello everyone. My name is Sophiyat and I am a Generation Connect Youth Envoy. I have a bachelor’s in Computer Science. And I like to refer to myself as a woman in tech as well. In my everyday life, I love to provide space for young girls in developing communities to explore their curiosity about technology and the world of ICTs.
Maximillian Jacobson Gonzalez:
Thanks Sophiyat. Now before we meet our guests, why don’t we also tell the listeners about how you learned about ITU?
Sophiyat Sadiq:
Of course! I heard about the ITU first, when I applied to be part of something called the “Generation Connect Visionaries board”. Now, I didn’t get into that program, but I was asked to be part of the Generation Connect Youth Envoy, which is part of the ITU Youth Strategy” to engage more young people in its programs. I have been a Youth Envoy for over a year now, and I do have to say it’s been a fulfilling journey.
Maximillian Jacobson Gonzalez:
Well, that’s very interesting. And, and for all those who don’t know us, in a nutshell, ITU is the United Nations specialized agency for ICTs or information and communication technologies. That’s computers, telephones, AI, the internet of things, and so much more…
Sophiyat Sadiq:
And ITU wants to hear from women in tech related jobs who have pathed new roads for women in their community and are inspiring all to shape the future in a new way.
Maximillian Jacobson Gonzalez:
Absolutely. Now, in this episode, we are focusing on women and ICTs on a governmental level, and more specifically on how women with political leverage can ensure the expanding developments of digital technologies to fight gender inequalities.
Our guest today is a Member of Parliament in the Republic of Namibia and Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology. She in heavily involved in youth engagement, gender balance, in business and empowerment of women to gain leadership.
Sophiyat Sadiq:
She was appointed as the deputy minister at 23 years. The fit that many would refer to as impossible for an African woman, especially in the ICTs. As a young African myself it is an absolute honour for me to hear a story today, as I’m sure many other young girls would be inspired.
Maximillian Jacobson Gonzalez:
Welcome to “Technology for Good” the Honourable Emma Inamutila Theofelus.
Hon. Emma Inamutila Theofelus:
Thank you.
Maximillian Jacobson Gonzalez:
Ms Theofelus, can I call you Emma?
Hon. Emma Inamutila Theofelus:
You can.
Maximillian Jacobson Gonzalez:
Thank you very much. Now, Emma, I’d like to start off by asking you, if you could tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got to where you are today.
Hon. Emma Inamutila Theofelus:
I’m a young woman, born and raised in Namibia, born in Windhoek, our capital, schooled my whole life in Windhoek, grew up in the dusty streets called Katutura. And I went to university studied Law and after that I joined the ministry of justice because I was very much policy adjacent, much of my advocacy life. And six months into my job, I was called by the President, and he wanted me to join Parliament and to become Deputy Minister of ICT.
Sophiyat Sadiq:
You have been quoted by the United Nations Global Compact as saying, “The Fourth Industrial Revolution is an opportunity for women,” and that “This is our opportunity, and we cannot let it go.” What exactly do you mean by that and how can women be leaders in this revolution?
Hon. Emma Inamutila Theofelus:
Thank you Sophyiat. Well, I believe in the first three revolutions women didn’t partake fully. They didn’t have an opportunity to self-actualize in the first few revolutions. This fourth one and possibly the first one is an opportunity for women to thrive. Um, women for long have been on the sideline of work, on the sideline of opportunities, this fourth industrial revolution is a time for women to actually take it as an opportunity for them to reach their full potential, whether it’s in business, whether it’s in education, entrepreneurship. This is the opportunity: this fourth industrial revolution is one for women for them to actually undertake, is an opportunity for them to self-actualize, and make sure their dreams come a reality. This is why I say this is the revolution for women. This is now one we can fully participate in without anyone else getting in the way of that.
Maximillian Jacobson Gonzalez:
Let’s talk a little bit about what’s happening in your home country. How is tech empowering the lives of young girls in Namibia?
Hon. Emma Inamutila Theofelus:
Namibia within its context is a large country, small population, 2.5 million people. It seems small, but we live in a vast country where people are really dispersed around the country. We are vastly populated, so it becomes very difficult to get technology to everybody. But so far, we have done so well in getting mobile services, putting up infrastructure, and even the internet penetration is, is gradually growing. But with that penetration, you can see the shift, to small business owners, by women and young people running businesses, using mobile money to exchange goods and services, to having children learning online, you see really the impact that technology can have on a society even in smaller scale in a big country. We also see, for example, that our country, its small population has really grown in terms of getting government services with the help of technology, it has really ensured that people get services they need, and to need not travel hundreds of kilometres to get those services because, in a space of an area there’s only one office. So it has really improved the lives of many Namibians with technologies concerned. And as a ministry, we are looking at ensuring that digital literacy is improved. Of course, we have a very good literacy rate, but digital literacy is not so good. So we are ensuring that the digital literacy actually improves so that people can get the services they need through technology by being digital literate. So, so far so good, but there’s definitely much more work to do.
Maximillian Jacobson Gonzalez:
It sounds very much like the landscape has changed since I was there which must be over, 13, 14 years ago now. And I visited a center for young people where they had access to computers and they were, queuing around the building, to get access to a very limited amount of technology there. So that’s wonderful. That sounds very good news. Sophiyat, next question over to you.
Sophiyat Sadiq:
Thank you. I’d like to ask you how can women from Namibia strengthen international relations between Namibia and other countries in the world?
Hon. Emma Inamutila Theofelus:
Well, I think we have really an opportunity now with women in the country who not only are becoming entrepreneurs who are joining organizations, not only at the local level, in the regional level, but also internationally. That is an opportunity for me to actually go out there and represent the country. We have seen, businesses, Namibian products being sold all over the world, whether it’s hair products, whether it’s clothes, Namibian female business owners, really reaching out to market. Beyond the comfort of the Namibian market. So definitely, I think there’s an opportunity there. And we are seeing that as women, especially in the country are becoming go-getters and getting the opportunity and education and training they need, they’re realizing they can conquer outside markets and that is a growing avenue that I think is, is one way of encouraging as a government and, and definitely for a small population there is an opportunity for more Namibian products services to reach out to outside markets and I believe Namibian women would be at the forefront of that.
Sophiyat Sadiq:
And we’ve come to our last question, over to you Max.
Maximillian Jacobson Gonzalez:
Thanks Sophiyat. Emma, here’s a final question for you and it’s a big one. How, in your opinion, can ICTs improve efforts for a more sustainable life on this planet?
Hon. Emma Inamutila Theofelus:
Well, Max, I think we have seen that technology has its pros and cons. As the world is becoming a global village, we also have to deal with waste from technological products that are becoming a growing concern, especially for the sustainability of our planet. I think there is an opportunity to innovate, and technology has proven itself as a catalyst for innovation, to innovate and to see how we can best preserve the planet and using technology as an opportunity to preserve the planet. Of course, we’ll need to guard against, destroying the planet in the process, whether it’s the minerals, we are, mining, whether its the natural resources we are using through technology, which makes it easier for us to access easier for us to mine, easier for us to use, we need to have a balancing act and I believe technology as much as it’s a giver, can also give that opportunity, to actually see how we can sustain the planet by coming up with smart ways, to consume smarter ways to preserve and smarter ways to utilize resources that are available to us, um, as human beings. So, definitely technology can be used as a catalyst to preserve our planet as much as it’s, it’s used as an opportunity for us to take and take and take from the planet.
M Maximillian Jacobson Gonzalez:
I couldn’t agree more. Thank you. Once again, Emma, for those wonderful insights, perhaps, a final word for our listeners?
Hon. Emma Inamutila Theofelus:
Definitely. I think, countries, whether developed or undeveloped are embracing technology as a catalyst for development. And as an African country is a Southern African country, Namibia, we are playing our role to see how best, we can ensure that technology becomes a contributor to our development, but to ensure that our population, our citizens, get the best benefits, from technology considering that, the world is moving technologically, and we cannot be left behind and it’s something we are committed to ensure that we are definitely not left behind.
Maximillian Jacobson Gonzalez:
Well, absolutely. I said 13 or 14 years, that I had been to Namibia, I realize it’s 17 years actually, since I’ve been to Windhoek. So I’ll have to come back again and see all of the developments in which I’m sure that you are at the forefront of.
Hon. Emma Inamutila Theofelus:
Thank you. No, absolutely. You’re more than welcome!
Maximillian Jacobson Gonzalez:
Thank you very much. Indeed. We’ll try and we’ll try and organize that. And we have just been talking with Hon. Emma Inamutila Theofelus who is Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology from the Republic of Namibia.
I’m Max Jacobson Gonzalez,
Sophiyat Sadiq:
And I am Sophiyat Sadiq. And next time, we’ll be talking to another inspiring woman in tech. So please, why not send us your feedback on Instagram @ituofficial.
Maximillian Jacobson Gonzalez:
And if you have any comments or suggestions, anything or anyone that has inspired you, and that you would like us to feature, dowrite to us at podcasts@itu.int…and… you can also visit our website at www.itu.int. And…If you’ve enjoyed listening to this programme, please don’t forget to subscribe to ITU podcasts. You can find us on Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more, as we try to dig ever deeper into how technology can truly serve the greater good for all the residents of our planet.
Sophiyat Sadiq:
Thanks for tuning in today. We can’t wait to share with you our next podcast with another great woman deeply involved in the ICT world and to listen to her unique story.
Maximillian Jacobson Gonzalez:
Thank you all and do tune in again! Look forward to seeing you next time!
You have been listening to Technology for Good, an ITU digital production.