E-Business
For Africa to Catch Up in Tech Development
Africa is surely trailing behind other developing countries in the development of the tech ecosystem. These developed countries have gone far in the development of their tech ecosystem because they have created the conducive environment for it to grow and flourish in their respective domains.
For Africa too to achieve this feat, it must brace up to create those kinds of enabling environment that has assisted the developed countries to achieve that feat. Internet World Stats shows, for instance that, of the about 3.566 Billion internet users in the world as at June 2016, only about 333.5 Million of them are in Africa and this represents only 9.4%!
This, in my view, is a far cry when you compare the population of Africans to that of the rest of the world as well as the numerous benefits that can be derived from the tech ecosystem that many Africans do not have access to because of the slow growth.
In order to allow many more Africans to enjoy the benefits of the tech ecosystem, the continent must step up its game and tow the path of closing the digital divide.It should be noted that America, Europe and Asia, got to the height they have attained today by working hard to achieve it.
Below, therefore, are some of what Africa should be doing in order to bridge the gap between it and the developed world in the tech ecosystem. .
One of these is that African governments should make sure that each country solves the issue of epileptic supply of electricity. It is important to state that without stable and affordable electricity, not much can be achieved in the sphere of growing and sustaining the tech ecosystem.
Without solving the electricity issue, all other efforts to make progress in bridging the gap are not likely to bear adequate fruit as majority of African citizens cannot sustain running their devices on fuel-powered generators.
One other area where African governments should look into is speeding up the provision of high speed Broadband internet access to its citizens.
It is of interest to note that the speed of internet access currently provided by many Internet Service Providers in Africa is very slow.
It is, however, heart-warming to note that that various Broadband projects are on-going to improve the speed of internet access in Africa.
African governments should also make access to tech gadgets and accessories available and affordable to their citizens.
This can be achieved through the rendering of reduced, or completely waiving, of import duties on those gadgets and accessories.
This will give room for the reduction of their prices and enable more Africans to have access to them.
The next thing for Africa will, then, be to encourage its citizens to embrace tech and use it to solve their everyday problems.
One of the most important ways in which this can be achieved is to ensure that computer is introduced and taught in all schools in Africa right from the basic schools on through to the secondary and tertiary levels.
The teachings here should not just be on theory alone but the practical aspects of it. Africans should encourage the citizens to interact with the government agencies, etc., in their daily dealings.
More tech hubs should also be encouraged to spring up in Africa with a view to reaching out to as many innovative minds as possible.
Tech Hubs are co-working spaces where innovative minds, mentors, investors, financiers, etc., meet, with the facilities providing conducive environment, such as working space, uninterrupted electricity supply, air conditioners for cooling and very importantly, high speed Broadband internet connection, and many more to the numerous users.
It will do the investors and the governments of African countries a lot of good to ensure that anyone trying to set up a Tech Hub is given the necessary assistance to achieve this.
If this is sustained, African countries will soon catch up with the rest of the world in the tech sphere.
Africans should forge ahead by adopting Digital Inclusion. This is a process that provides digital literacy, most especially, to adults not already vast in tech. This is a sure way of bridging the digital divide between Africa and the rest of the world.
This can be achieved by organizing affordable training and workshops and seminars for its adult citizens. This way, many more will be made aware of tech and what it can do for them.
If these are done, we can then begin to look up to more innovations coming from Africa, towards solving some of the world problems.
CFA is the Founder, www.CFAtech.ng & Co-producer/Presenter, Tech Trends on Channels Television
Kaspersky, a global cybersecurity company, and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to assist small and medium businesses in the country to become more cyber-aware and less vulnerable to developing cyber threats.
The MoU reflects a shared view that SMEs, being the backbone of economy, require strong cybersecurity measures. Kaspersky and SMEDAN will work together on information sharing, training programmes, and other practical steps to raise awareness of digital threats and cybersecurity measures.
“Small and medium business owners are juggling a dozen things – accounting, promotion, legal issues. They are not cybersecurity experts. But they are being targeted by cybercriminals through malware, phishing, and online schemes using social engineering tactics that make them look realistic.
“Our aim is to provide these organisations with some best practice tools and inform about measures that will help them stay safer online,” says Chris Norton, General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa at Kaspersky.
The cooperation will feed into SMEDAN’s wider SME development efforts, with Kaspersky contributing cybersecurity knowledge and joining forces on awareness campaigns. The idea is to bring cybersecurity-focused guidance into existing business support channels, and to do it in a way that actually makes sense to entrepreneurs who may not have technical teams behind them.
Charles Odii, DG/CEO of SMEDAN, comments: “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, digital adoption among business owners has accelerated significantly. Many now operate WhatsApp shops, use online banking, and send invoices via email, which has increased their exposure to cyber risks.
Together with Kaspersky, we intend to strengthen cybersecurity awareness and practices across Nigeria, helping SMEs protect their businesses as they embrace the digital economy.”
SMEDAN has long been a government agency that has consistently shown up for small business owners in Nigeria. Its work cuts across industries, regions, and stages of growth from traders and artisans to early-stage tech startups trying to get formalised. This partnership gives it another tool to help those businesses operate more securely in a digital world. For Kaspersky, the collaboration is part of a wider push across the continent to support under-resourced sectors that are quietly being targeted online.
Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has emphasised that integrating intelligence, security, and sustainability is critical to driving Nigeria’s digital transformation and global competitiveness.
Inuwa made the remarks on Tuesday in Kano while delivering a goodwill message at the opening of the 19th International Conference (CONNOVATE 2025) of the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS), themed “Intelligent, Secure, and Sustainable Innovations for a Connected World.”
Represented by Engr. Salisu Kaka, Director of E-Government and Digital Economy Development, Inuwa said the three elements were now indispensable drivers of national progress. He highlighted the need for their convergence to unlock new opportunities in Nigeria’s technology sector, citing Estonia’s X-Road platform — which enables 99% of government services online — as a global model.
“In Nigeria, trust is the ultimate currency in our high-stakes digital environment, where scams and cybercrime are prevalent. Security builds and protects this trust,” Abdullahi said.
He stressed that while security provides the foundation, intelligence builds the structure, pointing to Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and data analytics as tools for addressing Nigeria’s complex challenges. Warning that “innovation without security is unsustainable,” he likened it to “a high-performance race car without brakes.”
The DG urged the next wave of Nigerian startups to go beyond digitising existing processes to creating new value, citing AI-powered wealth management and ML-driven remote diagnostics as examples.
He further highlighted the various Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) initiatives supporting this vision, including the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), the Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT), the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023, the national digital identity programme, interoperable payments, and human capital initiatives such as the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) and Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) programmes.
Inuwa cited example with International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) President, Antony Wong, that called for stronger protection and strategic use of data in the Global South to safeguard indigenous knowledge. He stressed the importance of legal clarity on data ownership as Nigeria’s cultural heritage in medicine, ecology, and art is digitised and incorporated into AI systems. Wong praised Nigeria’s role in the recent World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaty protecting genetic resources and traditional knowledge.
Delivering his welcome address, the NCS President, Dr. Muhammad Sirajo, said the conference would serve as a platform for IT professionals to address critical issues, including intelligent systems, fintech, sustainable energy, and innovations in agriculture, health, education, and national planning.
“This conference will provide an interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners, and educators to present and discuss recent innovations, trends, and solutions for improving technological systems,” Sirajo said.
The week-long event includes plenary sessions, a doctoral consortium, a youth and entrepreneurship forum, the Fellows Forum, the Annual General Meeting, an IT quiz competition for students, and an induction ceremony for new members. It will conclude with the election of new national executives, a dinner, and an awards night honouring contributions to the ICT sector.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is betting big on Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a catalyst for delivering Africa’s ambitious Agenda 2063.
With hands-on training in tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, the Bank believes the results could redefine how the continent plans, measures, and delivers its development goals.
Through its Joint Secretariat Support Office, the AfDB has provided technical and financial support to the 5th annual training workshop for African Union member states, focusing on the use of AI to track and implement the second ten-year plan (2024–2033) of Agenda 2063.
The five-day workshop, held in Lusaka, Zambia, was co-organised by the African Union Commission and the African Capacity Building Foundation.
Participants from across the continent rolled up their sleeves for hands-on training with emerging AI platforms like Ailyse, Google AI Studio, and Perplexity.
The goal of Africa’s multilateral development finance institution is to turn complex development data into actionable insights that can drive smarter decisions, faster interventions, and more accountable governance.
AbibuTamu, lead programme co-ordinator at the AfDB, said AI was now an indispensable tool for Africa’s future.
“These tools are not only revolutionizing how data is collected, analysed, and reported, they are also enabling more targeted policy interventions and efficient resource allocation,” Tamu told delegates.
Agenda 2063, dubbed “The Africa We Want,” is the African Union’s 50-year blueprint for inclusive growth and sustainable development. The second 10-year plan prioritises industrialisation, digital transformation, and sustainable livelihoods.
With AI now in the mix, African policymakers can track progress in real-time, spot bottlenecks before they choke projects, and reallocate resources where they are needed most.
The AfDB’s backing underscores a broader strategy of boosting both human and institutional capacity that propels African states to harness the digital revolution.
Beyond technical skills, the Lusaka workshop doubled as a peer-learning platform, with countries sharing real-world success stories on integrating AI into national planning and reporting.
“If Agenda 2063 is Africa’s long-term roadmap, this AI training is about upgrading the continent’s GPS that ensures leaders not only know the destination, but also have the intelligence to navigate every twist and turn on the way,” said Tamu.
OAfabric Goes Live in Nigeria, DRC, Redefines African Interconnectivity
FCCPC Bars Digital Loan Firm from Forcing Services on Residents
Vitel Wireless, First MVNO Begins SIM Distribution
Glo Subscribers Applaud Network Upgrade
Banigbe, T2 CEO says Nigeria’s Growth Hinges on Learning, Innovation, and Afrocentric Content
Telecom2 days agoFG Scraps 5 Percent Telecom Excise Duty Under New Tax Law
News2 days agoNACCIMA, TETFund Forge Alliance to Boost Innovation, Skills, Economic Growth
News2 days agoWinners Emerge in the PalmPay, Glo Campaign
General News2 days agoIHS Nigeria, Osun State partner to transform technical education
E-Financial2 days agoFlutterwave, iPaylinks Partner on Africa–Asia Payments
Telecom2 days agoRoqqu, SiBAN Unite to Drive Blockchain Innovation Across Nigeria
General News2 days agoHow Poor Public Power Supply Stalls Digital Adoption- Ekeh
General News2 days agoFG Hails Moniepoint’s Role in Showcasing Northeast’s Agricultural Resilience Through Digital Innovation