The African Development Bank and Intel have forged a groundbreaking partnership aimed at transforming Africa’s digital landscape. This ambitious initiative, announced at the recent African Development Bank Annual Meetings in Nairobi, Kenya, targets training 3 million Africans and 30,000 government officials in artificial intelligence (AI). The collaboration promises to position Africans as active contributors to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), accelerating growth and productivity across the continent.
The joint effort will focus on equipping a critical mass of Africans with 4IR skills, addressing socio-economic challenges, and boosting productivity in key sectors such as agriculture, health, and education. This approach aims to disrupt traditional growth cycles, fostering innovation and sustainable development throughout the region.
In addition to training, the partnership will support African governments, regional economic entities, and continental organizations in establishing unified policy and regulatory frameworks for AI, 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, data, and cloud technologies. This strategic move will create a robust foundation for a thriving digital ecosystem, enabling widespread access and innovation.
Bienvenu Agbokponto Soglo, Director of Government Affairs Africa and IGA CTO Liaison at Intel, emphasized the transformative potential of this collaboration. “Intel looks forward to furthering its collaboration with African governments to make advanced technologies such as AI accessible to all, breaking down barriers related to geography, gender, and ethnicity, and enabling widespread participation in the digital economy,” Soglo said.
Ousmane Fall, the African Development Bank’s Acting Director of Industrial and Trade Development, highlighted the crucial role of digital skills in empowering Africa’s youth. “With advancements in digital technology, our world is rapidly evolving, and so is our youthful population, projected to reach 830 million by 2050. To develop skills on a large scale and at the necessary speed, we need everyone’s cooperation,” he stated.
This partnership between the African Development Bank and Intel signifies a monumental step towards digital inclusion and economic empowerment in Africa. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and fostering collaboration across sectors, this alliance is set to create a future where Africa not only participates in but leads the global digital economy.
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