How technology playing a critical role in Africa's new future

For over ten years - before COVID-19, Africa was growing at an accelerated steady rate compared to other regions of the world.

The 2020 projections by the African Development Bank showed GDP growth of 3.9 percent across the board with East Africa maintaining its lead as the fastest-growing region (averaging 5% in 2019).

Domestic structural changes in some countries have had a positive impact on the overall growth accentuated by Africa's leapfrog from landline to digital technology. It is predicted that a big part of the continent will go straight to the 5G mobile network.

 Way before the coronavirus, there was already a talk about the next global centers for technology being founded in Sub Saharan Africa.

Recently, Rwanda started construction of its own tech center called Kigali Innovation City (KIC). The project is valued at about $2b and will host world-class universities, technology companies and biotech firms.

Additionally, in October 2019, Rwanda announced the first smartphone manufacturing plant in Africa. The phones will be run on Google's Android Operating System.

Africa is predicted to benefit immensely from Artificial Intelligence since Google officially opened its Artificial Intelligence Research Center in Ghana in April 2019. The center in Ghana is designed to find solutions to Africa's problems.

Today, some African countries already have their own satellites orbiting the earth and gathering data inputs related to water, agriculture, climate change and environmental protection. While these technological developments may be slowed, there are no reports suggesting that they will be halted.

Some see the African emerging technologies as a threat, but the day is coming when visionary young African tech-preneurs will also find themselves launching billion-dollar unicorn IPOs with the potential not just to create wealth for themselves but transform their lives and livelihoods of their customers, communities and even nations.

Disruptive technologies such as AI, robotics, and drones will help countries in Africa leapfrog hurdles in health, education, manufacturing, and transport infrastructure.

Therefore, since the digital revolution has already taken root, Africa does not need trickle-down technology from developed nations but choose from the widest possible range of technology options that suit their countries' development needs.

Opportunities exist for African entrepreneurs in the tech industry to design apps that can make use of internet-based video telephony technologies such as Skype and Zoom and adapt them to the local environment.

During the COVID-19, airspace, sea and land borders were all shut down bringing commerce to a standstill. With travel bans and social distancing, more organizations questioned the wisdom of mass gatherings during this contagious and deadly pandemic.

Developed nations, multinational organizations, banking institutions and indeed the corporate world accelerated the use of digital platforms to mitigate business disruptions. The technology connects multiple conference rooms or meeting attendees from their personal desktops or mobile devices using the highest video and audio quality including built in-cross-platform group chat.

Broadcast across social channels with Facebook Live and YouTube integrations are also possible. Virtual meetings, webinars and summits are now common, and this is not a temporary trend but rather a major part of doing business for the foreseeable future beyond the pandemic fades.

Academic institutions are shifting to remote teaching as well with utilizing a variety of platforms to choose from. It is incumbent upon African public and private sectors in Africa to move virtual technology to the next level. COVID-19 caused disruptions, postponements and cancellations of important meetings and events in Africa while the rest of the world continued to function using virtual platforms.

Governments must take stock of their traditional ministries and offices and adjust to this interactive technology. An alternative to the customary in-person meetings must be in place. Every office must have an internet and computer literate management and staff.

There is no doubt that the tech-savvy young men and women of the continent will be at the forefront of this innovation. The virtual realities of scientific gatherings are here to improve the organizations' communication capabilities and efficiency.

Other benefits include reduced travel costs, increased productivity and higher engagement levels at meetings. The African Union, Africa.com, the Corporate Council on Africa and others have taken strides exploiting leading virtual platforms like Zoom to host critical webinars designed to discuss the impact of COVID-19 in Africa, strategies for governments to combat it, economic and social recovery efforts that must be put in place.

For example, on April 8, 2020 the African Union through the Africa Center for Disease Control launched weekly surveillance webinars in English and French to assist governments in fighting the pandemic. Africa.com continues to conduct powerful global webinar series such as "CRISIS MANAGEMENT FOR AFRICAN BUSINESS LEADERS".

Currently Corporate Council on Africa conducted a week-long virtual forum which brought together African leaders and CEO's with United States public and private sectors dubbed "RESILIENT U.S.-AFRICA BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT TO DRIVE POST COVID-19 RECOVERY".

Many more virtual webinars and video conferencing forums are taking place around the world sponsored by banking institutions, corporations to basically address critical economic, trade and social sectors in Africa. Other diaspora organizations like the African Business Portal provide permanent platforms where virtual events and webinars are providing innovative solutions for global - Africa solutions.

Behind closed doors, a new generation of enabled African youth and diaspora tech-preneurs is working around the clock to create world class virtual platforms. For example, a Kenyan based company has developed Africa's first video conferencing application called Gumzo, a Swahili word meaning "chatting" which is more affordable than foreign brands.

What innovators need to guard against is hacking. Cybercrime is currently heightened as hackers use COVID-19, online learning, and webinars as phishing bait. Otherwise, there is a strong African market for video tech business with the pandemic as a catalyst.

The writer is an African in the diaspora, hospitality professional and a former secretary of the African Growth & Opportunity Act-Southern California Coalition and a member of the African Business Portal. He is currently an African Business Development Director with Global Green Development Group based in Los Angeles.