A new scramble for Africa is unfolding in its digital landscape, where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as both a transformative opportunity and a profound challenge. Since the Digital Africa Conference in 2018, leaders have urged Africa to embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Today, the continent stands at a crossroads: will it shape AI to address its unique challenges and opportunities or remain a passive consumer of external technologies?
From AI-driven innovations tackling food security and healthcare to continental strategies designed to unify efforts, governments, big tech companies, and startups are each playing critical roles. Yet hurdles persist – from gaps in digital infrastructure and skills to questions of data sovereignty and ethical AI use. Africa’s startup ecosystem is emerging as the continent’s greatest asset, while collaboration between governments and big tech remains key to building inclusive, sustainable AI solutions.
I was inspired to write this article following my participation in the Inaugural AfricaCom Ministerial Summit 2024 in Cape Town, which was part of the 27th Annual Africa Tech Festival (11th —14th November) in partnership with South Africa’s Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT).
Over 15,000 decision-makers and influencers in the tech industry gathered at the ATF, including ICT government ministers, big tech companies, professionals, SMEs and startups from sectors like
telecommunications, healthcare, retail, financial services, and manufacturing. The Cape Town International Convention Centre buzzed with energy and optimism as participants explored technology’s role in driving socio-economic progress and innovation across the continent.
In this article, I explore Africa’s journey through its AI revolution – highlighting success stories, key policy advancements, and the importance of Digital Private-Public Partnerships (DPPPs) in unlocking Africa’s vast potential. The path forward lies in pan-African unity, innovation and the strategic use of Africa’s entrepreneurial talent and natural resources to shape a future where AI serves its people and strengthens its economies.
Big Tech’s Role in Africa’s AI Revolution
- Meta: Kojo Boakye, Meta’s VP of Public Policy Africa, introduced their open-source AI model, Llama, designed to bridge Africa’s access gaps. I was thrilled to see HelpMum, a social enterprise from the 2017 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme I had designed and implemented, leverage Llama to improve maternal healthcare in Nigeria. HelpMum has launched its MamaBot AI, providing vital healthcare information and support to pregnant women and mothers across Nigeria. I met the CEO of the Tanzania AI Community, a community of problem solvers using AI in Tanzania on a mission to promote Responsible AI, sharing resources, knowledge and networks.
- Google: Alex Okosi, Google’s Managing Director for Africa, shared how their research hubs in Ghana and Kenya are creating AI applications for food security, maternal healthcare, and African language support. For example, Google’s AI voice-to-text recognition for Swahili and Hausa has empowered rural communities to access education and government services.
These are just a few examples to illustrate the dual potential of big tech investments: fostering local innovation while addressing societal challenges.
Big tech leaders argued that AI could create jobs for Africa’s young population while driving economic growth. However, the continent’s digital divide remains a barrier, particularly in internet infrastructure and connectivity. Addressing this, Google has invested in initiatives like Digital Skills for Africa, which trained over 6.5 million people in 2023.
While big tech investments are welcome, African governments raised valid concerns about data sovereignty, ethical AI practices, and monopolistic behaviour. These partnerships must align with African interests, prioritising innovation over dependency.
The Role of Governments in AI Policy Development
At the AfricaCom Ministerial Summit, African ministers underscored the importance of robust policies to govern AI responsibly. Critical questions emerged:
- Is Africa positioned as a builder or merely a user of AI?
- How can African nations monitor AI innovation across the value chain – from data centres to chip manufacturing?
- With Africa’s critical mineral resources fuelling global chip production, how can the continent claim a fair share of the AI economy?
Several African nations have already acknowledged AI’s significance and formulated national strategies. Rwanda’s forward-thinking National AI Strategies are already yielding results. The IRCAD Africa Centre in Kigali, a training and research hub, has equipped over 300 students from 27 countries with AI and data science skills to address healthcare challenges.
AI Policy Progress Across Africa
The Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2024, launched in November, assessed 133 countries on digital readiness across four pillars: technology, people, governance, and impact.
Encouragingly, 20 African economies exceed expectations in at least one pillar, with Kenya and Rwanda excelling across all four pillars. Mauritius excels in business digitisation and inclusion but requires further investment in infrastructure and public sector improvements. South Africa is strong in digital adoption and emerging technologies but faces challenges in digital skills and inclusion.
Other nations, such as Egypt and Uganda, are also advancing AI policies. Egypt focuses on AI education and global collaborations, while Uganda highlights the importance of rapid coalition-building to harness AI for job creation and innovation.
At the continental level, The African Union (AU) has developed a Continental AI Strategy, aligning AI development with Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, significant challenges remain:
- Infrastructure disparities: Many nations, especially those with fragile economies, lack reliable internet connectivity and computing resources.
- Skills gap: Investments in education and workforce training are essential.
- Data frameworks: Comprehensive, well-governed data systems are critical for AI research and applications.
- Ethics and regulation: A unified regulatory approach across Africa’s 54 countries is complex yet vital.
- Public trust: While AI is a buzzword across Africa, it is limited to the urban-educated elite. Low levels of AI literacy hinder widespread adoption.
Addressing these challenges requires a coordinated effort among governments, private sector entities, educational institutions, and international partners to create an enabling environment for AI across the continent. Central to this are African startups, entrepreneurs, and SMEs.
Startup and SMEs: The Backbone of AI Innovation
As an advocate of African Entrepreneurship, I believe Africa’s vibrant startups can meet the solution to many of these challenges. Startups are Africa’s strongest asset in the AI revolution. As the CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (2014-2019), I witnessed SMEs and startups across the continent integrate digital technologies to scale their operations. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, digital solutions enabled these businesses to pivot online, ensuring their survival and growth.
At the Africa Tech Festival 2024 AI Summit, I saw how these startups are at the forefront of AI innovation. They are united in their mission to use AI to address local challenges by integrating AI solutions into the agriculture, healthcare, and education sectors.
South Africa’s Aerobotics uses AI and drones to help farmers optimise crop yields and detect diseases early. By providing actionable
insights through AI-powered analytics, Aerobotics is revolutionising agriculture, ensuring food security, and boosting farmers’ productivity.
To thrive, startups need support:
- Funding: Big tech and governments must invest in AI-driven enterprises.
- Regulation: Policies must empower, not stifle, innovation.
- Infrastructure: Better data systems and connectivity are essential for scaling startups.
Collaboration among startups, governments, and big tech will help democratise AI access and ensure local data fuels AI solutions tailored to Africa.
Digital Private-Public Partnerships (DPPPs): Unlocking Africa’s AI Potential
AI initiatives require substantial investment. I propose that Digital Private-Public Partnerships (DPPPs) offer a sustainable model to bridge funding gaps. Unlike traditional private-
public partnerships (PPPs), which focus on the physical, DPPPs emphasise collaboration, shared purpose, and policy development rather than profits.
DPPPs can drive AI progress in:
- Healthcare
- Financial Services
- Education
- Climate Action
The AU has a unique opportunity to leverage DPPPs by launching initiatives like a “Bank of Innovators”, a pan-African network connecting startups and SMEs to governments, businesses, and big tech companies. With global AI powerhouses competing (e.g., from the USA, China, and EU), Africa must navigate these dynamics wisely, ensuring AI becomes a tool for inclusivity rather than division. It will achieve this by harnessing the power of African Innovators.
Shaping Africa’s AI Future
AI is here to stay. Africa must act now. Governments, big tech, businesses, and society must work together to:
- Develop unified AI policy frameworks.
- Invest in infrastructure and skills.
- Foster collaboration across sectors and nations.
The future of AI-powered Africa depends on leveraging its immense talent, natural resources, and entrepreneurial spirit to lead—not follow—the global AI revolution.
Thank you, James Williams and Lavina Ramkissoon, for the opportunity to contribute to the Africa Tech Festival and AfricaCom Ministerial Summit.
Africa’s AI future is a story of potential, collaboration, and leadership. The time to act is now.
About Parminder Vir OBE
Over a 40-year distinguished career, Parminder Vir OBE has passionately devoted her life to amplifying untold narratives and resourcing the skills and imagination of underserved communities. At the core of her mission lies an unshakable faith in the transformative potential of ideas and stories to ignite profound change. Her diverse expertise spans African entrepreneurship, an impressive portfolio as an award-winning film and television producer, and unwavering advocacy for the arts and culture.
Parminder Vir lends her strategic insights as an Advisory Board Member of Mamamoni Limited and HelpMum and contributes as a Narrative Advisor at Mustard Venture Agency. She is also a director at Zikora Media & Arts Cultural Heritage Initiative, an inspirational cultural institution for Africa.
In her prior role as CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation and Advisory Board Member, she masterminded and executed a comprehensive entrepreneurship programme, impacting over 10,000 African entrepreneurs across 54 African nations from 2014 to 2021. Her tireless commitment to championing entrepreneurship as the keystone for Africa’s social and economic advancement continues to be a resounding call to action.
