By Gordon Graylish
One interesting theme
took centre stage during panel discussions at the recently concluded World
Economic Forum on Africa in Rwanda; that what the continent needs as much as
roads, dams, power plants (although there is still more development required)
is a way to embrace technology and infuse digital transformation in all
sectors.
It was interesting
because when questions such as “how can we diversify our economies” and “how
can we improve efficiency” or “how do we prepare our young generations to have
jobs” were asked, the answer from a lot of different players including
politicians, think tanks, investment organisations and the private sector was
the same; embrace the “3rd industrial revolution”; the digital transformation
revolution.
With a 350-million
strong middle and upper class currently expected to jump to 430 million by
2020, in
a 1.3 billion continent by that time, the private and public sector strongly
concurred that technology will have a significant impact in modernising African
governments in effect creating what I call the next-generation governments.
It’s encouraging that this revolution is already being stirred in small offices
and houses across Africa that have wholly
embraced mobile communications. Thanks to Kenya ’s
pioneering M-Pesa, Africa is leading the
mobile money revolution and this has already had a noticeable impact on the
continent in expanding financial inclusivity.
But mobile technology
alone is not enough. The next logical step should be to harness technology for
industrialisation, agriculture and social transformation. The world is entering
one of the most exciting eras of technology. Everyday objects are
becoming part of an integrated system of smart devices that are changing the
way we live. Opportunities are endless in smart energy power grids, smart
cities, smart agriculture, building secure government services and developing a
vibrant globally competitive technology industry. These opportunities have the
ability to fuel GDP, create new jobs, and boost economies.
