Going digital the best way to accelerate Africa’s progress
What you need to know:
- In an era where technology has impacted nearly every aspect of human life, the transition is unavoidable
Arusha. Digitalisation is the way forward for Africa to accelerate development, it was emphasized here yesterday.
The transformation is inevitable in an era where technology has taken a toll on practically all facets of human life.
“Contemporary technology has radically changed the way work is done,” said Ms Makena Mwobobia, the executive director of MS TCDC, an Arusha based training institution.
She said innovation through digitalization has made work more efficient unlike in the past, noting that Africa must embrace the technology.
Although analogue data is seen to be more stable, digital data has the potential to be more easily shared and accessed.
She made the call at the start of the 6th East African Community (EAC) YouthLead Summit at the campus of the centre.
She called on the African leaders to take corrective measures against unemployment and losses incurred following the outbreak of Covid-19.
According to Ms Mwobobia, many youth-owned businesses in the continent had been severely ravaged by the pandemic.
“The economic gains Africa made in the last decade may have been partly lost due to the pandemic,” she pointed out.
The five-day Summit themed ‘Digital Access on the Future of Work’ will examine the state of digital transformation in the continent.
In the process, it will put forward solution models for a predictable future of decent employment and work opportunities for African youth.
The annual summit brings together policy makers, youth leaders, NGO stakeholders and representatives from the private sector, among others.
Speaking at the meeting, the former Gambian Vice President Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang regretted that many youths in Africa remain locked out of governance structures.
This, according to her, has led to inadequate political participation, low self-esteem and indecisiveness among the youths.
She recounted how she was married off at a young age and went further to defy odds and become Gambia’s VP.
She said: “Bottom-top approach is the way to go if we truly want to see the continent moving forward”.
She is equally rooted for transformative leadership and a holistic approach when dealing with a myriad of challenges facing Africans.
Ms Tambajang urged African leaders to reset the agenda in ensuring the continent moves forward.
