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ActivEdge Group President George Agu Backs Push for Africa’s Digital Independence
Mr. George Agu, Group President of ActivEdge Technologies, has called on the African continent to seize control of its technological future by owning its data, algorithms, and digital infrastructure, and highlighted the urgent need for African nations to shift from being consumers of imported technology to creators of context-relevant solutions powered by local data and infrastructure.
George Agu, Group President, ActivEdge Technologies, delivering Keynote Presentation at the Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH 5.0) .
Presenting a keynote address titled “Building Africa’s Digital Independence: AI & Sovereign Technology, ”at the 5th African Tech Alliance (AfriTECH) Forum held in Lagos on Thursday, Agu said sovereignty in the 21st century is no longer determined by political borders but by “servers owned, data governed, and algorithms controlled.”
He warned that Africa risks repeating old patterns of dependency, this time by trading raw data for foreign-made insights, just as raw materials were once exported for finished goods. “Our goal should be to design AI solutions that are reliable for Africa, run in Africa, and reward Africa,” he said.
He described artificial intelligence as a fundamental economic layer comparable to electricity, arguing that nations now compete for data wells rather than oil wells.
Agu outlined the paradox facing Africa: while the continent has recorded explosive digital growth, over 700 innovation hubs, $5 billion in venture funding, and Nigeria alone processing ₦600 trillion in transactions via NIBSS in 2023, its digital foundation remains heavily foreign-owned.
Insisting that more than 80% of Africa’s digital infrastructure is hosted abroad, and less than 10% of AI models deployed on the continent use African data, Agu cited examples of harmful consequences, including a small furniture business in Aba denied a loan because foreign algorithms “could not see” its informal operations, an issue he called algorithmic invisibility.
Agu’s presentation showcased successful sovereign-tech models across Africa:
· Rwanda and Kenya have digitised public services while retaining data within national jurisdictions.
· South Africa’s CSIR is developing open-source language models trained on African dialects.
· Ghana’s digital addressing has given millions a formal identity.
· Grassroots innovations, from Ethiopia’s AI-driven agriculture to Uganda’s adaptive learning systems, demonstrate the power of AI tailored to African realities.
Highlighting Nigeria’s digital strength, Agu said the country is poised to lead Africa’s sovereign AI movement due to its youthful population, vibrant startup ecosystem, and pioneering fintech rails.
He referenced Nigeria’s ongoing initiatives, including the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the Nigeria Data Protection Act (2023), and the rise of indigenous solutions like ActivEdge’s Introspec and PayEdge, which leverage context-aware AI designed for Nigerian environments.
Citing research from McKinsey and the African Development Bank, Agu stressed that Africa could unlock $1.3 trillion in additional GDP by localizing AI systems, noting that localised AI could also raise agricultural yields by 15%, save 300,000 lives annually through improved diagnostics for African phenotypes, and create 4 million jobs by 2030.
He warned that Africa currently loses billions yearly, with Nigeria alone spending ₦150–200 billion, on foreign cloud services. “Each gigabyte stored abroad exports value,” he noted.
Agu insisted that Africa’s challenge is not technology, but leadership capacity and ethical stewardship. “The real test is whether we can govern innovation as responsibly as we celebrate it.” He called for the integration of digital ethics, data literacy, and design literacy into governance and education systems.
The ActiveEdge Chief Executive proposed a continental strategy anchored on creating national datasets in languages, crops, health, and climate; launching an AI Corps to embed young talent in critical sectors; de-risking innovation through AI sandboxes; securing energy for data centres; and building a Pan-African Digital Common Market aligned with AfCFTA protocols.
Agu urged African innovators and governments to see digital sovereignty as a moral, economic, and generational responsibility. “We once lost minerals to ships; we must not lose minds to algorithms,” he warned. “Africa’s digital independence will not be imported. It will be invented by Africans, not by chance but by choice.”
The need for Nigeria to think outside the box in its need to drive towards global relevance with innovations and scientific developments will be on the front burner at the NITRA Innovative & Scientific Conference scheduled to hold on Thursday July 23, 2026 in Ikeja, Lagos.
NITRA
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will lead other delegates to discuss and take far-reaching decisions at the event, which has its theme as “Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide With Scientific Innovation”.
Other companies that have indicated interest in partnering with NITRA include mobile communications company, Tecno; Africa’s premier end-to-end AI solutions company, Hyperspace; and telecommunications data infrastructure company, Digital Realty.
Speaking on the proposed event, the Chairman, Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), Chike Onwuegbuchi noted that the event will seek to create a platform for government and private organisations to deliberate on policies around scientific innovations in Nigeria, challenges, place of indigenous and foreign collaboration, roles of each stakeholder, and grassroots development in that regard, among others.
According to him: “The Federal government, with series of programmes and partnerships, has established the urgent need to create an ecosystem that thrives on scientific innovation, breeding institutions and individuals with a target of placing the country at the fore-front of Next-Gen development.
It is a known fact that digital and scientific innovations are crucial, not only to the survivability of a nation, but also to the sustainability of its growth and development, with significant effect on economic strength, global image, defense and security, government capabilities to function, and public health and safety, communication and digital footprint, among others.
The federal government is actively driving scientific innovation to foster economic diversification and build a $1 trillion economy by 2030. Efforts are heavily focused on commercializing research, establishing massive research funds, and funding strategic infrastructure, particularly in technology, biotechnology, and healthcare. Core government initiatives and policies include the newly instituted National Research and Innovation Development Fund (NRIDF), which aims to mobilize about $500 million annually to support research and the commercialization of scientific outputs; and the Nigeria Genomic City, a multi-ministerial initiative aimed at transforming Nigeria into a leading hub for genomics, precision medicine, and biotechnology. It is designed to protect indigenous data, stimulate artificial intelligence in health, and develop a highly skilled scientific workforce.
According to the General Secretary of NITRA, Mr. Chidiebere Nwankwo, the forum will also be a vehicle to propagating the views of decision makers to the public, thereby furthering the cause of public awareness and information dissemination on the topic.
The focus, he said will be on how Nigeria can sustain digital innovative growth and scientific development in Nigeria
Concerns over network reliability and its impact on Nigeria’s growing creator economy took centre stage at MTN Nigeria’s Data on Trial event, where content creator and streamer, Jarvis, challenged telecommunications operators to improve connectivity for digital creators.
Speaking during the event, Jarvis asked whether there were locations in Nigeria where uninterrupted internet connectivity could support real-life (IRL) streaming without network disruptions.
“Are there places where there is no breakage when streaming IRL?” she asked.
Her question highlighted the challenges faced by content creators who depend on stable internet services for live streaming, content uploads and real-time engagement with audiences.
Responding, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Technical Officer, Mr Yahaya Ibrahim, said network performance depends on several factors, including location, network coverage, device capability and the number of users connected to a particular base station.
He noted that operators continue to invest in expanding network capacity to meet the growing demand for data services.
Earlier, MTN’s General Manager, Network Performance and Quality Assurance, Mr Michael Ndukwe, explained the evolution of mobile network technology in Nigeria, from first-generation (1G) services to the current fifth-generation (5G) technology.
According to him, each phase of technological advancement has significantly increased network capacity and enabled new digital services.
Ndukwe cited Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) data showing that Nigerians consumed about 13.2 million terabytes of data in 2025.
He added that data usage reached approximately 4.06 million terabytes in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting the country’s increasing reliance on digital platforms and online services.
According to him, the growth is being driven by wider adoption of 4G and 5G networks, increased smartphone penetration, the proliferation of smart devices and expanding use of social media platforms.
Participants at the event noted that as more Nigerians build businesses and careers around digital content, access to reliable and high-speed internet has become critical to sustaining the country’s digital economy and creator ecosystem.
In an era where customer complaints about data consumption often play out on social media, MTN Nigeria took an unusual step. Rather than issue another statement, the company opened its doors and invited critics, customers, influencers and journalists to interrogate its operations at the Data On Trial in Lagos.
Dr Karl Toriola, MTN Nigeria
The session offered a rare glimpse into the realities behind Nigeria’s digital economy. MTN Nigeria CEO, Dr Karl Toriola, acknowledged public concerns and encouraged participants to ask difficult questions. “Give it to us as hard as you can. Ask us the most difficult questions, don’t hold back,” he said. The company used the platform to explain how factors such as automatic cloud backups, video streaming and app settings contribute significantly to data consumption, issues many users often overlook.
Beyond addressing consumer concerns, MTN shed light on the scale of investment required to keep Nigeria connected. Toriola disclosed that the company invested close to ₦1 trillion in network infrastructure last year and plans to exceed that figure this year. He explained that these investments support network expansion, improved capacity and service delivery for millions of Nigerians across the country.
The session also highlighted MTN’s commitment to accountability. Company executives explained that MTN’s billing systems are independently audited and reviewed by regulators to ensure accuracy and fairness. “What we are saying authoritatively is we will never deliberately shortchange you on the consumption of your data,” Toriola stated, reaffirming the company’s position on customer trust and transparency.
More than a defence of its network, Data On Trial reflected a company willing to engage openly with the people it serves. At a time when digital connectivity has become central to everyday life, MTN’s decision to answer tough questions in public signalled a broader commitment to transparency, customer education and continuous investment in Nigeria’s digital future.
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