A glance at the first day of the first ever blended SCECSAL Conference

 By Elia Kadhiya & Sylvia Umana for SCECSAL Forum

Hon. Prof. Katjavivi

After years and months of preparations, the XXIV SCECAL Conference
(SCECSAL 2021) finally kicked off today at the Safari Hotel and Conference Centre in Windhoek, Namibia. Dr Chiku Mnubi-Mchombu, the chairperson of SCECSAL National Organising Committee, introduced the SCECSAL XXIV conference and acknowledging the sponsors’ contribution to making the conference a success. These include the Namibia Library and Information Council (NLIC), The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Emerald Publishing, International University of Management (IUM), the Goethe-Institut, Elsevier Publishing, University of Namibia (UNAM), Springer Nature, Namibia Libraries and Archive Services and the Namibia College of Open Learning (NAMCOL).

Dr Ellen Namhila

Dr Sarah Kaddu, Chairperson of the Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA), moderated the official opening session programme. During the official opening, Dr. Ellen Namhila, NIWAN founding member and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) of UNAM, extended a warm welcome to all participants at the conference venue and to participants who joined the conference through virtual platforms and indicated that we are living in an era in which human development has been identified as a critical challenge. She was followed by the Guest of Honour Hon. Prof. Peter Katjavivi who, in his opening speech, emphasised the important role of information services in meeting the world’s development agenda as defined in the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The Ministry of Basic Education, Arts and Culture was represented by the Deputy Minister Ms Faustania Caley who indicated how libraries and archives play a major role in collecting, storing, processing and delivering information in the quest to advance socio-economic development. She applauded that the conference has come at the right time when Namibia libraries need serious infrastructural upgrading to meet the demand of an information society as envisioned in the Vision 2030, Namibia’s blueprint document which outlines where the country needs to by 2030. 

Members of the Organizing Committee

A total number of 85 delegates onsite, and 34, via Zoom platform, attended the first day of the conference.  

The blended, in-person and virtual, conference adhered to Namibia Government COVID-19 prevention protocols, which includes wearing face masks, using hand sanitizers, and keeping social distancing.