By: Peneyambeko Jonas
The opening of the Rössing Foundation Multipurpose Digital Hub in Ondangwa has provided a reminder that Namibia’s future prosperity may depend as much on what happens inside classrooms, laboratories, and technology centres as it does on what is extracted from mines.
Built through a N$37.18 million investment by Rössing Uranium Limited and strengthened by the donation of 73 interactive science exhibition models worth N$6.05 million from China’s Foundation for the Development of Science and Technology, the facility represents an investment in human capital and innovation.
While Namibia continues to benefit from its rich natural resources, experts increasingly agree that long-term economic growth will depend on developing skilled people who can compete in a rapidly changing digital world.
Officially inaugurating the facility, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah challenged Namibians to embrace science and innovation as tools for national development.
“As Namibians, we cannot afford to be mere consumers of technology developed elsewhere. We must become creators, innovators, and producers of knowledge,” she said.
The President further stressed that the community, learners, and educators must make full use of the Rössing Foundation Multipurpose Digital Hub and its science facilities to ensure it continues serving future generations.
Its true value, she said, would not be measured by the infrastructure itself, but by “the young minds it inspires, the innovations it produces, and the opportunities it creates for generations to come.”
The message comes at a time when artificial intelligence, automation, and digital technologies are reshaping economies across the globe.
Countries that invest in science, technology, and innovation today are positioning themselves for future competitiveness.
For the Oshana Region, the facility provides opportunities that extend beyond education. It offers a platform where learners can gain practical exposure to science, where teachers can strengthen classroom learning, and where young entrepreneurs can develop digital skills needed in modern industries.
Oshana governor Hofni Iipinge believes the hub arrives at exactly the right moment.
“We recognize that education, science, technology, and innovation are no longer optional; they are essential pillars for economic growth, job creation, industrial development, and national competitiveness,” Iipinge said.
He described the Rössing Foundation Multipurpose Digital Hub as a significant investment in the future of northern Namibia and a key contributor to the country’s ambition of becoming a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy.
The project also demonstrates the important role corporate Namibia can play in national development.
For decades, mining companies have contributed to the economy through taxes, employment, and exports. However, investments such as this show how the private sector can also help prepare Namibia for the industries of tomorrow.
If more mining companies invested in technology centres, vocational training institutions, innovation hubs, and science laboratories, the country could accelerate the development of a skilled workforce capable of driving economic diversification.
Rössing Foundation Board Chairperson Gida Sekandi said the project reflects a belief that sustainable development is achieved through opportunity rather than charity.
“For the Rössing Foundation, this centre represents the very essence of our mission. We have always believed that lasting progress is achieved not through charity alone, but through creating opportunities that empower people to improve their own lives and contribute meaningfully to their communities,” she said.
Her remarks carry an important lesson for local businesses and entrepreneurs. Across the world, successful technology companies often begin in innovation spaces where young people have access to training, mentorship, and modern resources.
Namibian businesses should actively seek partnerships, grants, and funding opportunities that support innovation and technology development.
The responsibility now shifts to the public.
Schools across the Oshana Region and neighbouring communities have been notified to organise regular visits to the hub.
While teachers have also been told to use the science exhibition facilities to complement classroom learning. Parents should encourage children to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and innovation.
The speakers have noted that the Multipurpose Digital Hub has been built; now the challenge is ensuring that it becomes a living centre of learning, discovery, and opportunity.
