Professor Katjavivi calls on information professionals to address deficiencies in services rendered in terms of library and information services

 As the XXIVth SCECSAL conference gets underway in Namibia

Hon. Prof. Peter Katjavivi
delivering his statement

Honourable Professor Peter Katjavivi, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Namibia, today officially opened the XXIV SCECSAL Conference on “Inclusive Libraries and Information Services Towards Achieving Prosperity for Sustainable Development in Africa” at the Hotel Safari in Windhoek, Namibia.

In his opening statement, Honourable Professor Katjavivi, emphasised the importance of information services to meet the world’s development agenda as defined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in Africa where up to 30% of the population in many of our countries still live below the poverty line.

Hon. Prof. Katjavivi also reminded participants at the conference that inclusiveness to information services “requires to reach out and serve equally all groups in society, from the poorest to the richest, the disabled as well as the illiterate and other marginalised communities including minority groups in our societies”.

“I am happy to note that this conference will address all these deficiencies in services rendered in terms of library and information services in order to identify gaps and challenges and come up with workable solutions in the SCECSAL region.  Through this conference deliberations, I am confident that you will address inclusiveness and the Sustainable Development Goals agenda”, said Hon. Prof. Katjavivi.

Part of the participants at
the conference venue in Windhoek

The National Information Workers Association of Namibia (NIWAN) is hosting the conference for the second time in the history of SCECSAL. NIWAN first hosted SCECSAL Conference in April 2000 on the theme “Information 2000: a Vision for the SCECSAL region.

The first SCECSAL Conference was held in 1974 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

More than 50 papers are scheduled to be presented at this year’s SCECSAL Conference.