The second day of the first National Conference on Digital Transformation featured debates between national leaders and international experts, who argued that technological innovation will only be effective if built on skilled people, strong institutions, and partnerships between government, the private sector, and academia.
During a panel on “Capacity Building and Innovation in the Digital Era,” Manuel Guilherme Júnior, rector of Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), stressed that creating platforms and strategies is not enough—citizens must be trained to use technology to solve real societal problems. “The success of digital transformation is measured by the human capacity created to address the country’s concerns,” he said.
He also emphasized that training should not be limited to universities but should begin in primary education through digital literacy.
Martins Leite, rector of the Open University ISCED (UnISCED), identified digital literacy and data management as essential skills for advancing the digital transformation agenda. He underscored the importance of data protection, warning that information can be used for both positive and negative purposes. “It is not enough to have large amounts of data; it must be protected,” he noted, adding that simple measures like strong passwords help prevent cyberattacks.
Leite also highlighted the need for change management skills, noting that fear of innovation and resistance to new ideas are major barriers to digital transformation.
Geoffrey Ronoh, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at the Office of the President of Kenya, stated that digital transformation succeeds only with high-level political commitment and strong investment in human capital. Sharing Kenya’s experience, he said progress depends on collaboration among government, the private sector, academia, and citizens, with users placed at the center of digital solutions and artificial intelligence used to complement—not replace—human capabilities.
Speakers concluded that Mozambique has the conditions to advance its digital agenda, provided it invests consistently in people, leadership, and innovation.
Text: Ana Mangana
