Namibia's Data Protection and Cybercrime Bills are nearing completion, according to minister of information and communications technology (ICT) Emma Theofelus, who launched the country's eighth National ICT Summit yesterday.

Both the Data Protection and Cybercrime Bills aim to protect citizens' personal information as technological advancements evolve rapidly.

The move African countries are among the top countries most targeted by cyber criminals, according research firm Check Point Software Technologies.

In her opening remarks, Theofelus said that Namibia's moment to develop a strong and resilient technology framework has come, and she encouraged her fellow citizens to embrace digital transformation.

"To thrive in this new digital era, we must not only adapt to technological changes but also build a robust and resilient framework that can withstand the rapid pace of these advancements," Theofelus said.

The theme of this year's 8th National ICT Summit is dubbed: “Building Resilience to ‘Adapt or Die’ in the Era of Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence.”

"Our focus must be on ensuring that digital transformation benefits all Namibians and drives sustainable development across all sectors," said Theofelus.

She added: "From e-government to digital health and education, these technologies offer new ways to improve service delivery and enhance the quality of life for our people. We must leverage these technologies to make government services more accessible, efficient and responsive to the needs of our citizens."