Technology expert and digital policy advocate, Mr. Idaretsit Akpan, has called for increased investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI) across Africa, warning that the continent risks losing control of its digital future without strategic action.
Speaking at a recent technology and innovation forum in Lagos, Akpan stressed that Africa’s dependence on imported digital infrastructure and AI systems developed outside the continent poses long-term threats to data security, privacy, and economic independence.
He argued that sustained local investment in AI research, innovation hubs, and indigenous data centers is essential to preserve Africa’s digital sovereignty — the right and capacity of nations to govern their digital resources, technologies, and data without undue external influence.
“Artificial Intelligence is shaping global governance, trade, and communication. If Africa continues to consume technology rather than create it, we will remain vulnerable to digital colonialism,” he said.
Akpan urged African governments to adopt clear AI strategies that prioritize homegrown innovation, policy alignment, and ethical governance frameworks. He also emphasized the need for partnerships between academia, private sector players, and startups to build local expertise and foster AI-driven economic growth.
According to him, strategic investment in AI would not only strengthen Africa’s cybersecurity and data control but also unlock new opportunities in education, healthcare, agriculture, and governance.
He concluded that the future of Africa’s development depends on its ability to build, own, and regulate the technologies shaping the next industrial revolution.
