Acclaimed
serial digital entrepreneur and Chairman of Zinox Group, Dr. Leo-Stan Ekeh has cautioned
the African continent over an impending digital disruption occasioned by the
challenges of mass unemployment and the failure of most African states to match
the rapid pace of digital evolution, reports ITRealms.
Making
this call at a breakfast talk with select entrepreneurs from Africa and Asia in
Dubai Marina on Sunday, Ekeh, a renowned digital enthusiast and global advisor
to Microsoft, disclosed that Africa has barely 13 and a half years to avert the
impending disruption which may throw the continent into the proverbial Dark
Ages.
“Nineteen
years ago, I had warned on the need for Nigerians and Africa, as a whole, to
wake up from a self-imposed slumber and follow the pace of digital evolution.
How? By creating resources that will empower more ventures for employment of
our teeming youthful population. This is essential because the rise of
computing and the coming age of super-computers is bound to take many jobs away
while making others redundant.
“This
warning was largely unheeded as only a few paid attention. As at today you have
over A million high tech incubation centers in Asia alone while Africa has less
than 500 and must of them less equipped and politically driven. But we are
beginning to see the consequences today. Unemployment is rife and has
transformed into a major problem confronting many African economies with no
concrete solution in sight. With the global pace of advancements in ICT, the
situation is bound to worsen. Many more hands and jobs will be displaced by technology
and the failure to expand and create more industries to accommodate these
losses will be felt more harshly,” he posited.
Ekeh’s
position was echoed in a recent presentation by Luc Cortebeeck, Vice-President,
Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) who mentioned new
technology as one of the major challenges facing the future of work. Cortebeeck
disclosed that the world is suffering an official unemployment rate of 210
million people, with an estimated 600 million extra jobs needed to fill the gap
by 2030.
According
to Ekeh, Africa has a limited period of time in which to act to avoid being
left behind by the rest of the world.
“A
major digital disruption will happen in Africa 13 and half years from today. Last
year, we had about 15 years left but it is now 13 and a half years for this
disruption to climax for those not prepared. The signs are already here. Internet
of Things is progressing at a high speed; major countries are investing in
robots and what I regard as digital oracles such as IBM Watson, and others to
replace humans in many areas of endeavour including law, warehousing,
factories, medicine, security, traffic control etc.
“The
major concern for Africa is that this might cause a revolution as investors
will have no choice than to prefer robots for example over humans to run their
operations. Remember, robots are not dumb and deaf; they do not go to church,
night vigils, mosques or village meetings; they don’t belong to labour unions
and social clubs, do not technically fall sick and only require servicing every
37 days; hence more productive than humans.
“In
my hunger to anticipate and prepare for the future, I lost millions of dollars
with other investors from Europe and Middle East in Asia last year in our research
on advanced technology but please note that, many others with critical
infrastructure at their places of birth are succeeding. Mine was a focus on solutions to avert
disaster that could erupt in my country not too long from today. We lost money as
a result of the lack of certified research incubators and credible local
database of certified knowledge workers in Africa. A lot of us had to engage in research in Asia
to find solutions to advanced technology and robotics because of their hunger
to lead the world from the second quarter of this century.
“If
Africa does not prepare for robotics, the continent will be completely
displaced by quality goods from Asia and other continents at cheaper prices. As
we speak, Google and Tesla are making huge progress with the assembling of
driver-less cars using robots while advancing in technology for remote charging
of electric cars – a move that will radically change the way we live, commute
and completely eliminate the use of petrol and drivers. In another 10 years,
most corporates will deploy these cars without drivers and zero fuel which
shall drastically reduce the cost of doing business and shareholders will
celebrate their Management. The question
then is: who will purchase tech products coming out from Africa in a few years’
time since these will be considered sub-standard and too expensive?”
While
urging the participating entrepreneurs not to lose hope, he noted that the
sweeping digital upheavals is a learning curve for them.
“Most
of you from Asia may be partially disrupted but you have the tact to realign.
However, my biggest fear is for most African countries whose leaders and
private sectors are not anticipating a light-weight but wealth filled future.
It will be a disaster to deny their citizens the right to wealth which is the
core strength of this century in which no one is created by God to be poor.
“For
those of who are Nigerians, some of you migrated to the UAE and Asia for
survival but you must enhance you profile with skills to anticipate the future.
You have earned exposure and a level of confidence but you must quickly skill
up and return home to lead those of us with analogue businesses and mentality. It
is clear that any company that would survive in the third quarter of this
century must be a technology company: hotels, airlines, banks, etc. shall all
transit to technology companies.
“In
spite of the depressed economy, we have globally celebrated corporate giants in
Nigeria such as the Dangote Group, Globacom, just to mention a few, so there is
no better time to start thinking of bringing home digital civilization. Consider the booming youthful population,
growing sophistication and literacy levels, desire to live well and lifestyle
patterns – these are major factors that
make Nigeria the best place to invest in and reap bountifully.
“Do
not be discouraged by the number of billionaires in the system but wake up to the
opportunity to create legitimate mega wealth. In Nigeria, these opportunities
are limitless as I started there from zero to become somebody today. My story
shall be documented soon,” he concluded.
Chuks Egbune/GEE
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