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.
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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 ‎