Friday September 26, 2025
The Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Mr. Steven Matainaho, has called on students and innovators to embrace Papua New Guinea’s cultural identity as the foundation for digital transformation.
Speaking through zoom at the 20th Information Symposium at Divine Word University’s Madang Campus today, Mr. Matainaho emphasized that innovation is not foreign to PNG.
“Innovation has always been with us,” he said.
“Our ancestors were innovators from climate-smart homes to ancient irrigation systems, and even leadership styles like the Melanesian consensus model.”
The symposium theme, “Building a Digital Future: Honoring Traditions Through Technology,” resonated with DICT’s push to align innovation with national development goals.
“We must institutionalize the PNG Way in how we innovate and adopt technology,” Matainaho stated.
“Innovation must not erase who we are, it must amplify us as a people.”
He also outlined key initiatives by the DICT to build the country’s digital public infrastructure, including the Service Portal, Service Pass (Digital ID), Service Wallet, and Service EDX, a data-sharing platform for government services.
“These tools will make government services more accessible and secure,” he said.
“Technology must serve the people, especially those in rural areas.”
Mr. Matainaho also announced a K50,000 annual commitment from DICT to support DWU’s information systems projects and innovation awards.
“We want to push innovation that aligns with our digital government stack,” he said.
He urged students to explore how their projects can connect with the Digital Government Plan 2023–2027.
“You are the current and future innovators,” he added. “Government lays the foundation, but you will build on it.”
Matainaho concluded by reaffirming the department’s commitment to fostering inclusive, culturally grounded technological advancement.