By Aminat Umar
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Dambata, has reiterated the need by African countries to harness the power of technology to drive economic growth, social development and innovation across the African continent.
Dambata spoke at the opening ceremony of the 11th edition of the Digital Africa Conference and Exhibition (DACE), which was held from September 19 to 21 in Abuja.
According to a press statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr Reuben Muoka it reveals that Danbatta was represented at the occasion by the Head, Consumer Information and Education of the NCC, Dr Emilia Nwokolo, Dambata said the theme of this year’s event, ‘Artificial Intelligence and Africa,’ is both timely and significant as it attests to the commitment to harness the power of technology to drive development and innovation on the continent.
The NCC boss said Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the most transformative technologies of our time and it’s potential to revolutionise industries, enhance productivity and increase the quality of life of the citizens, which cannot be over-emphasised.
Dambata said he believed that AI will play a vital role in shaping Africa’s digital future.
The NCC chief executive also spoke about the many examples of AI-powered software that are in use in our daily lives, including mobile phones, fingerprint biometrics, among others.
He also emphasised the many advancements in AI across various sectors of the economy, including healthcare, agriculture, finance, education, to mention but a few.
He said AI-powered solutions also have the potential to address some of Africa’s most pressing challenges such as limited access to healthcare, food insecurity, financial inclusion and infrastructure development.
The NCC vice chairman said for Africa to really embrace AI, the continent must address critical factors such as investment in building necessary digital infrastructure, which of course includes expanding existing broadband connectivity.
Apart from this, Dambata said the continent must be committed to ensuring reliable power supply, while also fostering a conducive regulatory environment. He said without robust infrastructure, the potential of AI will remain untapped and the digital divide with be further widened.
He said in all these, efforts also must be made to priotise digital skills development. He added that AI technologies require a skilled workforce capable of developing, deploying and maintaining these systems for effective use, while also not leaving behind the need to invest in education and training programmes to equip our youths to participate effectively in AI-driven economy and growth.
By nurturing a generation of AI experts, we can elevate Africa’s position in the glob AI landscape and create job opportunities for our youths.
He said collaboration and partnership are also crucial in unlocking the potential os AI in Africa.
He said there must be collaboration among governments, regulatory bodies, the academia, the private sectors and the civil society.
Urging these sectors to work together by sharing knowledge, pooling resources together to leverage expertise to drive innovation and create an enabling environment for AI adoption.
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