Maseru – The government of Lesotho officials, students and technology leaders gathered at Lerotholi Polytechnic on Friday for the Digital Innovators Summit, a platform described as key in shaping Lesotho’s future through innovation and skills development.
Reporting on the event, Ralekaota Maphaka and Mokone Lithupa noted that the summit was organised under the Ministry of Information, Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation and brought together young people, policymakers and industry players to discuss digital transformation.
Speaking on behalf of the ministry, Principal Secretary Kanono Ramashamole said the government has laid a foundation for progress through the Science and Innovation Act of 2021. He noted that institutions such as UNIPOD will play a vital role in turning ideas into practical solutions.
Ramashamole told participants that Lesotho has joined the Smart Africa Alliance, a continental initiative that connects innovators to regional and global networks. He said government is also working on policies that use data to strengthen decision making while protecting human rights and countering disinformation.
According to the ministry, intelligent systems and assistive technologies are being prioritised in agriculture and healthcare. A consultant will soon be engaged to study the local market with the aim of identifying artificial intelligence tools suitable for farming and other key sectors.
Ramashamole urged local innovators to adapt to global changes in technology rather than compete in areas where larger economies dominate. He said Lesotho’s vision is to be fully competitive in regional and international digital markets.
Project Lead Tello Leballo, who is also founder of Sky Alpha HD, said the summit serves as the country’s leading platform on ethical artificial intelligence and digital transformation. He explained that since 2024, the event has reached over 1 200 participants, equipping students with technical knowledge, problem solving skills and entrepreneurial thinking.
Leballo said the summit encourages students to be creative, ask questions and challenge assumptions while embedding ethics and human centred values in technology.
Representing UNDP through the UNIPOD project, Morapeli Sekamane pointed out that limited research and development in Lesotho necessitated the creation of the initiative, which focuses on skills building, innovation and product development.
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