The Role of Technology and Innovation in Driving Africa's Growth
This piece is a part of a series that explores the legacy of slavery and colonialism on identity, history and culture in Africa and the Black diaspora. Read the primer piece here.
Photo by Desola Lanre-Ologun on Unsplash
Written by Emmanuel Nwaka
From the iron age to the data age, man has systematically been developing techniques and technologies to boost his customary living. Growing up, my father told us tales about how our ancestors made use of sticks and stones to search for prey. Through the easy formation of copper and iron, they created spears and knives to make a much better hunt; they conjointly engineered better farm tools like hoes and cutlasses to cultivate their crops.
Due to civilization and industrialization, the ability to create more productive farm implements like tractors and lawnmowers was bliss. In essence, the application of data for improved functions is the core aim of technology and innovation. The African continent could be blessed and endowed, however, it houses some of the poorest counties in the world.
Despite the fast unfolding of digital technology during this modern era, Africa’s growth when taken into account is one of the slowest in the world. Hence, the requirement for larger technological innovation is very pertinent.
Agriculture
Agriculture forms a major portion of the economies of all African countries. This sector contributes to major policies like eradicating hunger and financial conditions, boosting intra-African trade and investment, and economic diversification. Equipped with the overwhelming majority of land and labour, the continent ought to be at the forefront of independence in agriculture however this is often not the case. Today, Thailand exports a lot more food than all of Sub-Saharan Africa. Since being self-sufficient in the 1960s, the continent imports products that contend with its own: meat, dairy farm product, cereals, and oil.
The most important issue with agriculture is its dominance by family farming: This farming depends mainly on family labour and therefore has a rock-bottom rate of improved seed production for the continent. With low farm productivity and a lack of better farming implements, technology and innovation are necessary to improve the agricultural sector of the continent.
Zenvus, a precision farming startup in Africa uses process algorithms to structure farms. Zenvus collects soil fertility and crop vegetative health information to deliver precise agriculture data at scale. This information may be utilized by farmers to extend their agricultural yield. In solving the problem of irrigation, KickStart, a non-profit-making organization provides moveable water pumps to countries like the Republic of Mali and Tanzania to boost their water storage systems. FarmDrive, a finance startup connects tiny-scale farmers to credit facilities and helps money establishments increase their agricultural loan portfolios in Africa. With the worldwide population expected to exceed 9 billion by 2050, making farm produce accessible and profitable for individuals worldwide is the foremost objective of our time. With climate-smart production technologies and Africa’s productive potential, it may be a key contributor to feeding the planet.
Health
In our Health sector, governments face a myriad of challenges starting from poor infrastructure to a lack of adequate funding. These challenges are additionally combined by the huge departure of doctors abroad for greener pastures. Due to widespread poverty and embezzlement of public funds, few countries will pay $34 to $40 per person which the World Health Organization considers the minimum for health care.
Startups like NiMEDix in Africa use cloud computing and cryptocurrency to allow individuals to earn from the healthcare sector. With a localised approach to eliminating funds’ misappropriation and fraud, NiMEDix uses technology and innovation to supply an economical platform for individuals to speculate on the health sector of the continent.
Because of constraints in hospitals and higher medical instrumentation, innovative concepts like mobile apps got to be embraced in our health sector. Mobile apps like PEEK (Portable Eye Examination Kit) are employed in the Republic of Botswana to check patients who don't have easy access to an optician. FD-Detector is also a startup that helps authenticate medicines by employing a drug’s barcode. In actualizing the goal of equitable healthcare in the continent, access to medical innovation should be a major priority.
READ MORE: Nigerian girls win Silicon Valley contest for app that spots fake drugs – CNN
Education
The role of technology and innovation in public enlightenment can not be overemphasized. From barbaric rituals regarding the education of women and girls to underfunded institutions, the continent will fail to meet the Millennium Development Goals 2000.
In Nigeria, we’ve had our justifiable share. Repeated student protests in our tertiary establishments, reduced budget allocation, and the deterioration of basic infrastructure have troubled our education sector for years. Above all, the academic system is not preparing us with the relevant skills for our age.
By applying innovation via mobile phones and therefore the broadband web, access to education and therefore the quality of education are achieved regardless of people or location. AI-powered education provides flexibility for international students to learn from foreign universities. It fosters customized learning as ancient learning systems designed to suit us are no longer feasible. New learning platforms like Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) customize in-class lectures and tests making sure every student gets the simplest attainable learning expertise.
Much of Africa’s growth over the decades has been driven by the extraction and sale of its natural resources. Examples of these are oil from Nigeria, gold from Tanzania, and iron from Mauritania. To accelerate development, finance within the creation of recent technologies should be done to boost our industries. Technological innovation should be prioritized to make sure our productivity is on a global scale. Africa’s sure path to accelerated development can only be achieved through technology and innovation.
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Emmanuel Nwaka (he/him) is a prolific writer who talks about Personal Development, Blockchain, and Tech. He uses writing to move people closer to their dreams and live a life of purpose. Here's a link to his LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmanuel-nwaka