Business a.m.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) and multinational technology firm, Intel have announced a partnership to equip millions of Africans with artificial intelligence (AI) skills. The initiative aims to empower three million citizens and 30,000 government officials with the tools and expertise to transform their digital ecosystems, driving progress and growth across the continent.
The AfDB and Intel sealed the agreement in Nairobi, Kenya, during the African Development Bank’s Annual Meetings, with a target to create a mass of African citizens proficient in Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) skills. Empowering Africans with 4IR skills is seen as a catalyst for rapid economic growth and heightened productivity, as the landmark initiative is poised to equip Africans to be at the forefront of technological innovation.
Through specialised training programmes in the areas of agriculture, health, and education, among others, the partnership aims to revolutionise traditional growth models by addressing socio-economic challenges and fostering productivity gains.By equipping a mass of Africans with cutting-edge skills in the 4IR space, the collaboration seeks to unleash Africa’s immense potential as a hub for innovation and progress in the global tech ecosystem.
The AfDB and Intel partnership will support African nations, regional economic communities, and organizations in developing unified policy and regulatory frameworks for cutting-edge technologies. The partnership aims to foster coherence and interoperability by harmonising AI, 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, data, and cloud services policies across Africa, enabling a robust digital ecosystem that can drive innovation and growth on the continent.
In a statement highlighting Intel’s commitment to digital equity and empowerment, Bienvenu Agbokponto Soglo, Intel’s director of government affairs in Africa and IGA CTO Liaison, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, noting that the initiative would help to democratise advanced technologies such as AI in Africa.
Soglo stated that the partnership will strive to dismantle existing barriers to participation in the digital economy, fostering a more inclusive and equitable society where gender, ethnicity, and geography are no longer barriers to success.
Ousmane Fall, AfDB’s acting director of industrial and trade development, commented on the crucial role that digital skills play in enabling Africa’s youth to participate meaningfully in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Highlighting the fact that Africa’s youth population is expected to reach 830 million by 2050, Fall noted that to successfully develop skills at a rate commensurate with the rapid pace of change, a concerted effort from all stakeholders is required.
“The Bank (AfDB) is thrilled to collaborate with Intel to work towards this shared commitment. Together, we are shaping the digital future of Africa and empowering our youth,” he added.
