Reimagining National Progress Through Innovation
The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) hosted its Innovation Day on Thursday, 31 July 2025, with a compelling evening programme that brought together government leaders, academia, industry partners, and entrepreneurs to celebrate the official transformation of the Namibia Business Innovation Institute (NBII) into NUST Innovation Hub (NUST-i).
Held at the High-Tech Transfer Plaza Select (HTTPS), the event deepened earlier conversations, focusing on the strategic role of innovation in achieving national development. The rebranding of NBII to NUST-i represents more than a cosmetic change; it marks a bold institutional shift towards inclusive, integrated innovation that responds directly to Namibia’s socio-economic aspirations.
In his remarks, Vice-Chancellor Prof Erold Naomab anchored the University’s innovation agenda within the broader national vision. Citing the President of the Republic of Namibia, Her Excellency Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, he echoed a key principle from her maiden State of the Nation Address: “The successful implementation of our plan will result in economic growth and improve living standards for Namibians, where citizens have access to the basic human needs to live”.
Prof Naomab noted that the University’s innovation platforms must be socially inclusive and geared towards creating solutions that elevate national well-being, especially for underserved communities. “Innovation must not exist for its own sake. As a University, our responsibility is to ensure that innovation reaches every Namibian household through practical, meaningful transformation,” he said.
He further highlighted the evolving national context, referencing the new administration’s commitment to ‘business unusual’, as well as opportunities emerging from natural resource discoveries and the green economy. “To harness our youth dividend, we must invest in innovation ecosystems that deliver real outcomes. With NUST-i, we are creating a national space that empowers students, researchers, and communities alike,” he added.
Honourable Dino Ballotti, Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, delivered the keynote address with passion and urgency. Emphasising the role of innovation as a national development accelerator, he challenged stakeholders to move beyond rhetoric and into action: “We must empower our youth not with promises, but with platforms where innovation leads to industry and their ideas shape national prosperity”.
He called on the private sector to co-invest in early-stage ventures, universities to embed entrepreneurship in every curriculum, and the public sector to open supply chains to local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). “Innovation is not a future promise; it is a present-tense delivery tool. If we are serious about nation-building, we must build the future together,” he declared.
The evening’s programme also featured powerful insights from Dr Anna Matros-Goreses, Executive Director of Research, Innovation and Partnerships at NUST; Mrs Mareka Muronga, CEO of Ilotu Cosmetics; Mr Nawa Likando, Head of Digital Transformation and Innovation at MTC; Ms Valerie Garises, Director of Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at NUST; and renowned entrepreneur and speaker, Ms Hilda Basson-Namundjebo. Attendees witnessed firsthand how NUST-i will serve as a dynamic hub for innovation, bridging the gap between academia, industry and society. The evening reinforced that NUST-i is not just a physical space, but a movement; one that centres Namibians as creators - not just consumers - of progress.
