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Experts have indicated that Uganda and other African countries have great potential to become the highest net exporters of technology talent in the world.

The experts' take comes at a time when African governments are pursuing ambitious technological advancement programmes to not only aid industrialisation but also create jobs in digital spaces.

Renowned Nigerian entrepreneur and afro popstar, Oluwatosin Ajibade aka Mr EAZI, speaking in Estonia during Latitude 59 tech conference, called for remarkable support to harness Africa’s technological advancement potentials.

“Now, Africa, not just Nigeria, but Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Benin and Rwanda, among others, our continent has the prospect to become the highest net exporter of technology talent,” he said.

He added that there is a need to harness digital spaces to create jobs for young people was immense with over 10 million smart young people being churned out of the universities each year in Africa and in need of jobs.

During the conference, he discussed his tech and creative journey and the prospects of the African orange economy via smart governance at a roundtable with former Estonian President, Toomas Hendrik Ilves.

Regarded as the flagship startup and tech event of the world’s first digital society, Latitude59 brought together over 400 investors and 800 startup reps in the Estonian capital of Tallinn, from May 24 to May 26.

Eazi also used the conference to highlight the need for business alliances in tech for Africa and other continents.

Estonia presently has the most start-ups per capita of any European nation. It is ranked first in the region for its business environment.

Former Estonian President Ilves shared how the country has been positioning itself to be friendly for tech founders and entrepreneurs through its digital e-residency programme.

“You can set up your company digitally in Estonia, and become an e-resident,” Ilves said.

Forging partnerships

Uganda at the conference was represented by the officials from the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and National Guidance.

According to the ministry, Uganda is forging partnerships with different international agencies to build capacity to create millions of ICT jobs for young people, especially via the business process outsourcing.

The country was at one time ranked as the world's most entrepreneurial country by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), recording the highest number of youth entrepreneurs with 55.6 per cent of the youth population involved in new or established businesses.

According to the ICT minister, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, technology is among the four critical areas the Government has identified as vanguards for jobs and wealth creation.

The others include commercial agriculture, industrialisation and services. 

“Section 4.7 of the 2021-2026 National Resistance Movement (NRM) party manifesto, emphasises that ICT is essential in improving national productivity because it has the potential to make government and business enterprises more efficient, effective and globally competitive.

“We all now appreciate that we can’t avoid making ICT an integral part of every sector we want to perform,” he said.

Prime Minister of Uganda Robinah Nabbanja, while launching the government-sponsored report on the Fourth Industrial Revolution recently, highlighted that the Government was broadening investment in ICT infrastructure including expanding internet coverage to among others facilitate the growth of digital spaces to ensure jobs for young people.

The geographical coverage of 3G broadband services in Uganda per the government data, stands at 66% allowing digital access for 74% of the population of over 45 million people.

“Investment in ICT is now a global contributor to social-economic development. In fact, according to Forbes, four of the top five richest individuals in the world; are in the technology sector,” Nabbanja said.