The Chairman of Digital Africa, Dr. Evans Woherem, says Nigeria and the African continent must take deliberate steps to bridge the existing technology gap and revolutionize their economies and industries.
Woherem made the call in Abuja during the 12th Digital Africa Conference and Exhibition, organized by Digital Africa Global Consult, an international ICT consulting company.
The conference, themed ‘Quantum AI and Implications for Africa,’ brought together tech enthusiasts, innovators, and educators within Africa to showcase their innovations and discuss the implications of the existing tech gap for the continent.
Woherem revealed that Nigeria and Africa, by extension, have continued to remain technology consumers in a “world that is rapidly advancing in the area of technology.”
“Africa cannot afford to be left behind as a perpetual laggard, follower, and consumer, or a continent waiting for others to innovate before it can adopt their advancement. This is a mindset that has held us back for too long.
“We still have a chance to be among the winners of tomorrow, and we cannot achieve this without considering quantum computing and artificial intelligence, which will revolutionize our economies and industries,” he said.
While emphasizing the importance of artificial intelligence and quantum computing, he advised that more efforts are needed in the areas of education, research, collaboration, and development.
“To bridge this huge gap, we must invest in research centers dedicated to artificial intelligence and quantum computing. These subjects must be integrated into our educational curricula and be taught in schools and universities as core components of modern education.
“We need to prepare our young minds to think critically, innovate, and create solutions relevant to our unique challenges in Africa. Also, we need to seek partnerships with global leaders in these fields and learn from them while contributing our unique perspectives and innovations,” he advised.
Meanwhile, Oluseye Adepoju, the CEO of Strengths Africa Limited, warned that the failure of Nigeria and Africa to adapt to these technological advancements would put the continent on the “map of extinction.”
He added that proper adoption of artificial intelligence and quantum computing will help improve efficiency and create more jobs.
The event had numerous innovators, tech enthusiasts, and researchers who are creating solutions in health, security, entrepreneurship, and the creative economy through technology.
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