In October 2026 alone, Namibia recorded about 506,000 cyberattack incidents. The University of Namibia now has new tools to train the people who will fight back.
On 09 November 2026, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) handed over computers and supporting equipment, worth about N$230,000, to equip UNAM’s new Cybersecurity Laboratory (Cyber Lab).
The equipment was funded through CRAN’s Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team (NAM-CSIRT). The handover follows a memorandum of understanding that UNAM and CRAN signed on 01 December 2025.
The Cyber Lab will give students hands-on cybersecurity training, support advanced research and build the technical skills Namibia needs as cyber threats grow.
Welcoming guests, Mr. Anton Limbo, Senior Lecturer in UNAM’s Department of Computing, Mathematical & Statistical Sciences, described the handover as an important step towards creating an environment for cybersecurity training, practical learning and research at the University.
Talent at home, threats everywhere
Ms. Sonja Coetzer, Managing Director of Salt Essential IT, used the 506,000 figure to show how urgently Namibia must strengthen its response to cybercrime. She was equally clear that the country need not look far for answers, and that partnerships between industry and universities are key.
“We need to understand that Namibia has the talent and skills. This collaboration with UNAM is critical in ensuring that our new digital economy is safeguarded, and that people can continue to grow, prosper and embrace new technologies,” she insisted.
CRAN Chief Executive Officer Ms. Emilia Nghikembua pointed to how heavily the economy, public services, education and everyday life now depend on secure, resilient digital systems. She described the N$230,000 contribution as a strategic investment, arguing that universities need the right technology to develop the expertise that will protect Namibia’s digital infrastructure.
Speaking on behalf of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Kenneth Matengu, Dr. Joseph Ndinoshiho, Acting Pro-Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation & Development, thanked the partners and stressed that research and practice must go hand in hand.
“Research must inform practice. This equipment will be used to help students, academics and researchers learn, and the knowledge generated through research will, in turn, inform practice. We regard this as a partnership of strategic importance and are grateful for this collaboration,” he affirmed.
For UNAM students, the lab means gaining practical cybersecurity skills before they enter the workforce. For Namibia, it means a growing pool of homegrown experts, built through a partnership between a university, a regulator and industry, ready to protect a digital economy under constant attack.
