Globally recognized technology experts have urged African leaders to commit to strategic investments in artificial intelligence (AI) to position the continent for economic and technological advancement. This call was made during the latest edition of the Toyin Falola Interviews, where distinguished AI specialists examined Africa’s place in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
The discussion, themed “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Africa’s Future,” featured an esteemed panel, including Dr. Ilesanmi Adesida, a renowned scientist and engineer; Professor Conrad Tucker of Carnegie Mellon University-Africa; AI and data transformation expert John Kamara; Professor Omowunmi Sadik, a leading researcher in chemistry and biosensors; Dr. Moses Asom, a veteran technology innovator; and Dr. Fayé A. Briggs, a digital economy strategist. The event was broadcast globally via social media, television, and radio, attracting millions of viewers.
Setting the tone for the conversation, Dr. Ilesanmi Adesida traced AI’s origins back to World War II, emphasizing its foundational role in modern technology. “Artificial Intelligence is not new—it was first proposed during the Second World War by Alan Turing. He was the code-breaker who helped the West win against Germany,” he explained.
According to Dr. Adesida, the real difference today is the exponential growth of computational power, which has transformed AI from a theoretical concept into a driving force in nearly all industries. “The first AI conference was held in 1956 at Dartmouth College in the U.S. MIT has had an AI lab for decades. What has changed today is that our phones, computers, and even household devices now possess enormous computing power,” he noted.
He stressed that while global powers like the European Union, the United States, and China are investing billions in AI, Africa remains on the margins. “The EU recently committed over €200 billion to AI investment under the ‘Invest AI for EU’ initiative. China and the U.S. are aggressively investing. The question is: where is Africa in this landscape?” he asked.
Dr. Adesida warned that Africa cannot afford to be left behind in this technological revolution. “Technology is the infrastructure of life. If we do not invest in AI now, we will find ourselves permanently on the receiving end of technological innovations created elsewhere. We must take charge of our own future,” he concluded.
Professor Conrad Tucker emphasized the role of AI in education, stressing the need for Africa to develop expertise rather than remain consumers of AI-powered technologies. “AI is not just an abstract concept. It involves hardware, networks, algorithms, and applications solving real-world problems. If we are serious about AI, we must focus on deep-tech education to ensure that African students are equipped with the necessary knowledge to contribute to AI’s evolution,” he stated.
Professor Tucker further elaborated on the potential of AI in education, saying, “AI is accelerating how students acquire complex skills. It is also transforming fields like engineering design and product development. From aircraft to automobiles and computers, AI is revolutionizing how ideas are conceptualized and tested through predictive modeling.”
He warned that without a deliberate educational strategy, Africa risks being locked out of the AI-driven economy. “If we do not train our students to compete globally, Africa will once again find itself as a passive consumer of technology developed elsewhere. The future of AI in Africa begins with education,” he asserted.
Professor Omowunmi Sadik highlighted AI’s transformative role in agriculture, scientific research, and industrial optimization. “AI offers immense potential for analyzing complex datasets in economics, agriculture, and disease diagnosis. It accelerates innovation and helps optimize industrial processes,” she explained.
She provided a concrete example of AI’s application in agriculture: “My research, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has developed sensors that help smallholder farmers detect fungal infections in crops like yams. These sensors are already being used in Jamaica. Imagine the impact of scaling such solutions across Africa’s agricultural sector.”
Professor Sadik also noted AI’s potential in industrial operations. “Nigeria has one of the largest petrochemical industries in the world, with the Dangote Refinery processing over 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day. AI can optimize these operations through predictive maintenance, quality control, and safety management,” she said.
On the issue of gender inclusion, she called for increased mentorship and support for women in AI-related fields. “Women are grossly underrepresented in STEM. We need targeted educational initiatives, mentorship programs, and networking opportunities to promote inclusion and address biases in AI development,” she emphasized.
Dr. Fayé A. Briggs cautioned against Africa trying to replicate Western AI models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Instead, he urged African countries to focus on adapting existing tools for local needs. “We should not be fixated on building an African version of ChatGPT. The key question is: can we train AI systems with African datasets? Right now, global AI models are trained on predominantly Western datasets. We need to integrate African knowledge and languages into these systems,” he said.
Dr. Briggs pointed out how AI can be used to create economic opportunities. “We are already using AI to create children’s books, comics, and cartoons with African stories. AI tools allow us to produce these products quickly, making it possible to monetize African creativity in new ways,” he explained.
He also identified AI’s potential in healthcare, saying, “Research has shown that AI can improve diagnostic accuracy by consolidating vast medical knowledge into predictive insights. This can be a game-changer for Africa’s under-resourced healthcare systems.”
John Kamara highlighted the lack of AI talent in Africa as a major challenge. “One of the biggest hurdles we face is the shortage of highly skilled AI engineers. Without a strong talent base, Africa cannot compete in the global AI market,” he said.
Kamara emphasized that Africa’s education system must be reformed to prepare the next generation of AI experts. “We cannot have educators who do not understand AI teaching students who are expected to lead in this field. We need an overhaul of our education system to make AI a fundamental part of learning,” he argued.
He also pointed out infrastructure challenges. “AI requires computing power, and many African institutions have outdated systems. We need a clear understanding of what infrastructure already exists and what needs to be built,” he noted.
Dr. Moses Asom reinforced the urgency of AI investment. “AI is a game-changer. It has the potential to accelerate Africa’s development across industries. However, this cannot happen without strong investment. If we do not invest, we will not see results,” he warned.
He also stressed that Africa’s AI infrastructure must be adapted to its unique context. “The AI infrastructure used in the West is not necessarily suited for Africa. We need energy-efficient, decentralized AI systems because we do not have the luxury of massive data centers powered by unlimited electricity,” he explained.
The discussion concluded with a unanimous call for African governments, private enterprises, and academic institutions to collaborate in fostering AI research, infrastructure development, and policy implementation.
“Africa must take ownership of its AI strategies and initiatives while still leveraging the global context,” Kamara said.
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