Africa is poised for transformation through the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), and experts are urging governments to seize this opportunity for sustainable development and growth. They made this declaration at the recent SmartBlock4Africa conference hosted in Babcock University in collaboration with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and Valley View University, Ghana. “Through cutting-edge tech and discussions, Africa can l transform the world,” said Babcock University President/Vice Chancellor, Professor Ademola Tayo while acknowledging the conference’s timeliness especially in fostering intellectual development. “I commend the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for choosing Babcock to chart solutions to Africa’s challenges.”
Expressing similar views, LOC Chair and Babcock faculty, Professor Oludele Awodele, is optimistic about Africa’s future through blockchain particularly in managing big data. He noted that the 4IR, characterized by emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), has the potential to transform various sectors such as healthcare, energy, agriculture, education, and governance. Also expressing similar views, Professor Ifeyinwa Achumba, IEEE Chair Nigeria sector warned that Africa must adopt digital interventions across various sectors to achieve sustainable development. This requires awareness, multi-stakeholder participation, public-private partnerships, education and talent development. She stated that Africa must not miss out on the opportunities presented by the 4IR, having missed out on the benefits of the previous three industrial revolutions. “To achieve sustainable development, Africa must adopt digital interventions across various sectors,” said Professor Achumba, represented by Engineer Gerald Okafor.
The experts identified key areas of impact, including economic growth and structural transformation, poverty and inequality reduction, labour, skills as well as production. In his submission, Vice Chancellor of the Adventist University of Central Africa in Rwanda, Prof Penniecook Eustace, represented by Prof. Pacifique Nizeyimana, counsels African leaders and policy makers to move fast in ensuring that the continent maximizes tech to drive economic growth. “Knowledge is power; but knowledge not acted upon becomes useless,” submitted Dr. Lossan Bonde from the Adventist University of East Africa, Kenya.
Aside from these and calls to prioritize infrastructure development, participants argue that to fully leverage the benefits of the 4IR, Africa must invest in education and programmes to build skill-set, develop agile governance and cybersecurity measures. By embracing the 4IR, Africa and Nigeria can take their place in the global economy and achieve sustainable development. “Africa stands at the precipice. AI and other Tech can enhance Africa and even predict malaria before it really breaks out as well as help farmers to use digital tech to improve yields. Let’s seize this moment to ensure that Africa emerges as a leader,” said Dr. Bakare. Professor Nicholae Goga, IEEE Chair (Region 8) and faculty of the University Politehnica Bucharest, Babcock University Senior Vice President Academics, Prof. Philemon Amanze and others were present to give their support as Africa’s quest for digital development takes a new turn.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.