The African Communication Conference kicks off in Namibia
Calls to strengthen trust and counter misinformation
Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:
On Thursday, the Effective Communicators Conference (ECC26) kicked off in Swakopmund, Namibia, with the participation of government officials, media professionals, and experts in communication and public relations from various African countries, to discuss ways to develop the strategic communication system and its role in supporting development and enhancing citizens’ trust.
The conference is being held in “The Dome” under the theme “Reimagining Communication: A Driving Force for Continuous Progress,” where participants will discuss the future of the communication profession, and mechanisms for employing it in supporting sustainable development and improving communication between governments and societies.
During the opening session, the Vice President of the Republic of Namibia, Lucia Witbowee, stressed that effective communication is a key pillar for building trust between governments and citizens, emphasizing the importance of providing accurate and reliable information, countering misinformation, and making responsible use of modern technologies to ensure that government messages reach the public clearly.
Whitboy urged participants to use the conference to propose practical solutions that contribute to developing and enhancing the efficiency of communication systems within African countries.
For his part, the Vice President of the Republic of Botswana, Ndaba Gawlathi, stressed in the keynote address of the conference the importance of Africans telling their own stories with confidence, noting that effective communication contributes to building bridges of trust between peoples and enhances the continent’s ability to showcase its achievements and development opportunities to the world.
The opening ceremony also featured speeches by the Governor of Erungo Province and the Minister of Information and Communications Technology of Namibia, along with representatives of international organizations and partners in the communications sector, who emphasized the importance of regional cooperation to develop strategic communication and enhance the exchange of experiences between governmental and media institutions in Africa.
The conference is a regional platform that brings together communication experts and decision-makers to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the media and communication sector in Africa, with a focus on its role in supporting governance, promoting transparency, and keeping pace with the digital transformation on the continent.
