It gives me great pleasure to be here where we handover our contribution towards the execution of the national Populations and Housing Census, by the Namibia Statistics Agency in 2021.
Old Mutual is a signatory to the United Nation’s Development Goals and supports initiatives that are aligned to our Responsible Business ethos. We constantly look out for opportunities whose outcomes improves Financial Well Being and catalyses the financial resilience of society. Covid-19 has exposed the lack of financial resilience at individual and corporate levels. Therefore, the need to have accurate information at all levels upon which evidence-based planning decisions can be made to support healthy macro-economic growth and ultimately help to address pervasive poverty and inequality is very important to us.
Furthermore, our Social Responsibility focuses on education, skills development, financial wellbeing and community development which in turn are well aligned to key pillars of our country’s national development plans.
As Old Mutual celebrates 100 years of operations in Namibia this year, an enduring lesson we learnt is that, while things rapidly change around us, the things that truly matter don’t. We all aspire for a better life and improved livelihood of the most vulnerable. Since research has shown that sustainable growth of nations is directly linked to Financial Literacy and Africa’s financial literacy scores are low, we have placed at the centre of our different financial propositions and offerings, measures to address low Financial Literacy rates and lack of access to financial advice.
The 4th Population and Housing census that is due to kick off in 2021, is among the most important, yet complex, data collection exercises in our country. The array of information it will collect such as the age, gender, marital status, mortality, education, literacy, orphanhood, disability and the quality and availability of housing facilities are all vital data for evidence-based planning and decision-making in our businesses as well.
Our support to this national exercise amount to N$120 000 and we are looking forward to a successful census whose outcome would assist various sectors in our country to help grow and develop the right products and services for the greatest positive impact on delivering higher financial literacy and financial inclusion. delivering higher financial literacy and financial inclusion.
Old Mutual will continue to remain a certain friend in uncertain times.
