African leaders root for emphasis on ICT

By Innocent Anguyo

ADDIS ABABA - African leaders have warned that the continent’s plans to rapidly transform into first world may not be realized without focus on information and communication technology (ICT), skills development and innovation.

Speaking during the opening session of the 10th edition of eLearning Africa on Wednesday, the leading pan-African conference on technology-assisted learning, Erastus Mwencha, the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, implored the continent to mainstream technology in all aspects of life.

 “There is an abiding imperative for Africa to foster innovation and creative technologies as the basis for advancements in ICT and sustainable economic development,” Mwencha said.

“It is the duty of our governments, the private sector and all segments of our society, to participate actively in maximizing the use and application of ICTs to create competitive, knowledge economies, as well as economies of impetus. Such is the foundation of gainful capital in human resource development."

Africa ready for ICT

Mwencha said Africa is being prepared for the ICT revolution, especially by the African Union’s Pan African University Program which demonstrates the practical efforts being undertaken by the Commission, to facilitate and implement Africa’s collective aspiration for meaningful development underpinned by rapid transformations in science, innovation, research and technology-driven education.

“Such initiatives, firmly anchored on the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA), represent hope and potential for the future generation of Africans. Under the STISA, the Commission will continue to pursue the elevation of Africa’s role in global research, technology development and transfer, innovation and knowledge production,” Mwencha said.

Ministers meeting at eLearning Africa’s Round Table for African ICT and education ministers had earlier acknowledged that ICTs were central to growth and that African Governments needed to do more to mainstream them, particularly in the education system.

Ethiopia in the lead

Dr Debretsion Gebremichael, Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia said his Government has made efforts to make ICT a strategic priority, urging other countries across the continent to follow suit.

“It has been abundantly clear that information and communication technologies are entirely changing the way individuals, organizations and enterprises think and do business,” said Debretsion.

“As a result, the Government of Ethiopia has made the development of information and communications technology one of its strategic priorities. For Ethiopia, the utilization of ICT aims at accelerating development, sustaining growth and promoting the process of democratization – while at the same time reducing the national level of poverty.”

German experts ask Africa to prioritise ICT

Guenter Nooke, German Chancellor, Angela Merkel’s Personal Representative for Africa underpinned the importance of eLearning for the continent, saying that technology-assisted learning can help to develop the vital skills for the future of Africa.

“Equipping young Africans with entrepreneurial expertise enables them to develop innovative solutions that will foster social and economic development. We need to create a digital friendly environment,” he said.

eLearning Africa, co-hosted by the African Union and the Government of Ethiopia, is being held at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa- from 20th May to 22nd May 2015.

In addition to the conference, which is being attended by over 1500 participants from all over the world, there is an exhibition, at which a range of exciting new technological solutions are being presented.