Windhoek: Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Dino Ballotti, has reiterated Namibia's commitment to inclusion, promotion, and youth advancement through sports. "I wish to reaffirm Namibia's unwavering commitment to the ideals of the AUSC Region 5 and the African Union's broader vision for integration, empowerment, and youth development through sports," Ballotti stated during the official opening of the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Board of Advisors meeting.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the event was attended by advisory board members, delegates from various Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states such as Eswatini, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, as well as members of various sports federations. Ballotti emphasized that sport builds nations, unites communities, and ignites economic opportunities, stressing the need for strong systems to realize this vision.
Furthermore, Ballotti highlighted the importance of aligning with larger continental aspirations, particularly the African Union's Agenda 2063, which positions sport as a catalyst for youth empowerment, cultural exchange, and regional integration. Agenda 2063 is the continent's development framework aimed at achieving inclusive and sustainable socio-economic growth over 50 years.
Ballotti also called on board members to collaborate in creating an enabling environment that allows sport to serve as a driver of development. "I implore this board to use its collective wisdom to create an enabling environment that allows sport to reposition itself as a pillar of the regional economy and a vehicle for youth empowerment," he urged.
The chairperson of the AUSC Region 5 Board of Advisors and Executive Director in the MEIYSAC, Erastus Haitengela, also spoke at the event. He emphasized that vision must be matched with action, urging the region to transition from dependence to determination and from excuses to execution. "While there is a vision, as we always say, there always must be a way. When countries fully own the regional agenda, they will innovate, prioritize, and mobilize resources accordingly," Haitengela said.