27 Jun 2024

Data and research are part of the national drive towards digital transformation and for national development plans to be realised there is need to move towards evidence-based policy making.

Officially opening the People and Data Conference in Tlokweng on Wednesday, the Minister of Communications, Knowledge and Technology, Mr Thulagano Segokgo said decisions should be guided by empirical insights that were derived from data at all levels so that there was prudent use of national resources.

Mr Segokgo, who is also Tlokweng MP, said data had moved from simply being understood as a resource that was limited to tech elites, to a resource that was intangible and central to all spheres of life.

He said it was undeniable that people were living in the world of data where those who were going to be successful and powerful in the future were those who were able to make great strides and success in data management.

“Director of ceremonies, as part of these efforts, government will launch its first satellite into orbit to be used for earth observation. This initiative would increase data generation hence the need for improved data collation and research.

Government has also managed to lure and attract different investors with the view to set up and develop vaccine manufacturing plants in the country, particularly in the areas of cancer and innovative drugs,” he said.

Mr Segokgo said the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that there was a need to close the gap in data inequalities in terms of access to data and as well as technological capacity in Africa. He said there was need to address data colonialism through improved awareness on data issues.

“In 2022 the Africa region, through the African Union, released its Data Policy Framework, whose major goal is to bolster intra-African digital trade, entrepreneurship, and digital innovation. The Framework also provides for safeguarding against risks and harms of the digital economy.

This conference therefore, being supported and facilitated by Africans, marks a major milestone towards achievement of the African Data Policy Framework,” he added.

Mr Segokgo said data was at the centre of knowledge, which in turn was key for the development of the region.

He highlighted that deliberating on the pertinent issues related to navigating the complex data regulatory issues would help in the pursuit of an African agenda that prioritised innovation and digitisation.

He said it was proper for the involved experts to map out within African knowledge systems the place and location of data and associated emerging technologies.

Minister Segokgo said government considered data as the diamond of the future and that since 2018, several legislative and policy reforms had been taking place, which saw the Data Protection Act come into operation in 2022.

He said the 2021 Smart Botswana Strategy was an action plan that sought to deliver a smart sustainable society aligned with Botswana’s National Vision 2036 whose goal was to transform Botswana from an upper-middle- income to high-income country.

For her part, one of the conference organisers, Ms Tuduetso Mokgosi of People and Gap, said the conference was about data and its usage in Africa for the benefit of the people. People and Gap is dedicated to transforming businesses to become more impactful by providing them with insights that inform their decision-making processes for greater brand relevance and innovation.

Their services include insights, strategy development, and community engagement. Through their work, they impact communities by crafting brand strategies that consider community needs and economic growth objectives.

“This conference is an opportunity for us to speak about how data can be used to solve some of the challenges that we are faced with in the region as a collective. There is no denying that data has taken over. All sectors of life and society are driven by data, hence we need to find data driven solutions for ordinary people,” she said. ENDS