Expo to promote Indigenous Knowledge System

Science and Technology Minister, Mosibudi Mangena officially opened the expo, which will be attended by IKS holders and practitioners from around the country.

The IKS expo is organised by the department, in partnership with the Northern Flagship Institution and other government departments and science councils.

The primary objective of the expo, which is being held under the theme 'Indigenous ways of knowing works', is to increase public awareness and understanding of IKS as well as the opportunities provided by government in IKS and related fields.

Indigenous knowledge is described as facts about medicinal plants, indigenous games, indigenous food crops and musical instruments to mention but a few.

According to the department, the expo will bring together a wide range of innovators and crafters who will demonstrate the economic value of products derived from indigenous knowledge and technology.

Departmental spokesperson Gaboile Tiro said the expo would showcase the competitiveness of these products and technologies to the global market.

"This is also an opportunity for higher learning institutions to showcase various study opportunities in IKS," she said.

The Ministerial Advisory Committee on IKS was unveiled by the minister in April to support the National IKS Office (NIKSO) which is responsible for advising Mangena on strategic issues relating to the protection, recognition, affirmation, development and the promotion of theses systems in the country.

The primary function of the committee is to provide a critical assessment of the extent to which the NIKSO carries out its mandate, including implementing IKS policy in line with the department's mandate.

"There is no denying the fact that the knowledge of individuals and the collective knowledge of communities are the only real time competitive advantages that any country can rely upon.

"Given our diversity and the varying levels of economic and social development, the technological needs of our country are also diverse," the minister said.

The challenge, he said, is to synergise actions in terms of Indigenous and Universal knowledge so that knowledge generation and utilisation benefits all segments of society without causing disparities or lopsided development.

Article published courtesy of BuaNews