African future is in innovations - Mayaki

ITRealms:

The chief executive officer (CEO) of the NEPAD Agency, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, has declared that “The best way to believe in the future for Africa, is to believe in our innovations and in our innovators,” reports ITRealms.

Mayaki in a keynote address at an event held to showcase African innovations as part of the commemorations for Africa Day, said that this year the NEPAD Agency also celebrated the innovations that entrepreneurs on the continent are developing, under the African Union theme for 2017, Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments in Youth.

Additionally, Dr Mayaki said it’s a time for reflection, celebrating the progress made by Africans, while also reflecting on the common challenges and solutions the continent needs in a global environment.

Africa has the youngest population in the world, and it is this population that will supply the much needed human capital and innovations in the years to come, even as the continent becomes more industrialised. Even as the continent faces the challenges of integration and industrialisation, many are the innovations that young enterprising Africans are developing to redress development challenges.

The exhibition by entrepreneurs at the event in Pretoria, made the case for the myriad of innovations which exist on the continent and need to be up-scaled in providing concrete solutions to some of Africa’s challenges. The young entrepreneurs’ innovations provide solutions in the areas of bioeconomy (including agro-processing and health), climate change adaptive innovations and smart industries (ICTs and advanced manufacturing), to name but a few.

Participants at the event heard from entrepreneurs who showcased innovations from injectable bone graft substitute, to devices that help deaf communities and various other innovations in health, medical, food, beauty, pharmaceutical and manufacturing industries.

“We need innovations to trigger technological developments and other advancements in the framework of Agenda 2063, Africa’s vision for transformation,” Dr Mayaki said.  

He added that, “The skills of entrepreneurs need to be shaped in such a way that as they grow, African economies can also grow, with the drive from the continent’s own innovative solutions.”

Dr Mayaki also stated that the commemoration of Africa Day with The Innovation Hub marks the first step towards strengthening collaboration with the NEPAD Agency.

Also speaking, General Manager for Enterprise Development at The Innovation Hub in Pretoria, South Africa, Ms Teresiah Simelane, said there is no better way to celebrate Africa Day than through innovations.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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