At ICT For Africa Conference: Obasanjo, ex-Mauritius President hail ICT University’s contribution to digital growth.

The two former African leaders spoke separately via video conferencing, at the just ended ICT for Africa Conference, organised by the ICT University Cameroon. 

Both Presidents Obasanjo and Gurib Fakim were amongst several global figures who delivered presentations during the gathering at the Yaounde Monte Febe Hotel.

The high-level conference, which ended last Wednesday, got on the rails July 16.

In his keynote address at the opening of the 15th edition of the ICT for Africa conference, President Olusegun Obasanjo praised the ICT University for being at the forefront of Africa’s digital transformation, as it seeks to bridge the gap between IT and the rest of the globe.

Obasanjo, who had very kind words for the Founder and President of the Board of Trustees of the ICT University, Prof Victor Mbarika, thanked the latter for initiating the conference.

He equally showered praises on Prof Victor Mbarika, whom he affectionately calls his younger brother, “for inviting me to this conference. He did not sit down and did nothing to bridge the digital gap between Africa and the globe”.

Obasanjo also said Prof Mbarika “was concerned about the digital divide and particularly the backward state of Africa in ICT and decided not to sit down and do nothing looking for who to blame”.

He indicated that Prof Mbarika, “believed that all of us could make a contribution in finding solutions to our IT concerns”.

The former African Union, AU president stated that “the founding of the ICT University based on US curriculum and the establishment of an annual conference on ICT for Africa are the two ways that Victor believes he will make contributions to close the digital divide between Africa and the rest of the world, particularly the industrialised world”.

ICT catalyst for Africa’s growth 

Speaking further during the conference, President Obasanjo said ICT for Africa Conference was a major catalyst to steer up the revolution of ICT in the African continent and put it at a global standard for the development of the continent.

He said, “ICT for Africa Conference is placed on a very high pedestal…that is why since its inception in the USA, 15 years ago, it has brought together the intellectual side of the digital world; that is the university, the research and innovation institution with industrial and policy makers to work in close collaboration to evolve policies”.

He also said experts are through the conference discussing, “strategies and businesses, products and programs that will bridge the digital gap that exists between Africa and the rest of the world”.

Nigerian as a model

Citing a concrete example of how digitalisation helped transformed Nigeria, during his reign as president, Obasanjo pointed out that digitisation played a key in the development of Nigeria’s mobile telephone sector, that is today booming, thanks to the revolution from analogue to digital.

“From Nigeria’s independence till the last decade of the 20th century, Nigeria made efforts to get telephone lines to half a million in number,” the guest speaker said, adding that: “Everything was done without achieving much success in analogue. But when intellectuals through higher level, higher educational institutions, research, technology and innovation went in the way of digitalisation, they arrived at working with the youths”.

Government policies and programmes, he further disclosed, “changed and Nigeria, within five years of adopting digitalisation, we had almost 50 million mobile telephone suppliers. This digitalisation has enabled us to grow and move from the speed of the sun to the speed of light”.

President Obasanjo, during the conference, called on stakeholders to step up their game in the digitalisation drive and do everything to support the process for the development of Africa.

He said: “Strategic initiatives have become business imperative in all areas of business, including agriculture, industries, and other economic activities within the society”.

Obasanjo shares the belief that, “the intellectual side and the industry side are already working together. I would like to see more of the policy makers side to form the third leg of the tripod to ensure firm and solid standing for digital transformation generally, but more so for Africa, where digital density in all walks of life is still the most important.”

Enter former Mauritius president

Taking the cue during the Yaounde conference, the former President of Mauritius Island, Ameenah Gurib Fakim, also congratulated the ICT University for strides in the sector.

Highlighting the indispensable role of digitalisation in the growth and development of the continent, President Ameenah Gurib Fakim underscored that it provides numerous opportunities for the growth and development of every society.

She said the gains are great, particularly when the youth form an integral part of its development. 

She said: “As youths of Africa, you have to push forward digitalisation, attend seminars, create start-ups and knock at the door of opportunities. Think of what you can do in tourism and governance because with technology, the field is wide, the opportunities are enormous and the sky is your limit”.

Former President Ameenah Gurib Fakim also urged women to seize the opportunity and develop their countries through the development of the sector.

She noted that: “Young people can get involved in innovations and contribute to the growth of the sector. Drawing youths and women into the sector can address the challenges the country faces”.

AI major factor for evolution of society- Eric Chinje

In a presentation during the conference, veteran journalist, Eric Chinje, stated that Artificial Intelligence remains a major factor for the evolution of society. 

Eric Chinje said, “it is important for the youth to seize the opportunity and create their own impact in society”.

According to Chinje, “if we are going to transform our society, we must figure out how effectively we can use Artificial Intelligence to foster development. For example, in the media sector, we can strategise on how we can use these instruments to bring significant change in our society. Artificial Intelligence is inevitable because as you analyse life on earth today, you will see that AI is already creeping into every aspect of our life…we have to make the most of it and develop our communities”.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3176 of Monday July 22, 2024