President Lazarus Chakwera has emphasized on the need for Africa to build its capacity for the technology that the world needs.
Speaking through a recorded speech that was broadcast during the official opening of the African Youth Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF) 2022 in Lilongwe on Wednesday, he said Africa should focus on creating tailor made digital solutions in order for the continent to advance technologically.
Chakwera said as the world was advancing in technology, there was need to look at ways that would take the African continent go towards that direction by having technologies that the world needs tomorrow.
“Technological advances demand that we come together as a continent and find solutions to challenges that Africa shares. As we find such solutions, let us not forget about the youth who need to be included in finding such solutions,” the President said.
He said Africa needs to decide now to shake the digitalization of tomorrow and push forward for the future.
Chakwera cited making internet affordable and accessible as one of the ways that would address communication gaps.
Minister of Information and Digitalization, Gospel Kazako expressed concern that Africa’s internet penetration was low.
He said despite the situation other countries have attained great milestones in the digitally.
Kazako said the continent has a lot to do to endure that the continent enjoys fruits of digitisation.
“In 2021, internet penetration in Africa was 43.1 percent against the globes 66.2 percent,” he disclosed.
African Union Commission (AUC) Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Dr Amani Abu-Zeid said Africa has a serious gap on digital divide hence the need to invest in digital infrastructure in order to achieve the 60 percent global internet penetration.
The AfIGF which started on July 18 and runs to July 21, 2022 is being held under the theme ‘Transforming the Role of the Youth in a Digital World.
The discussions of the meeting are centred on access, meaningful connectivity and digital literacy as primary requirements for successful digital transformation towards internet that benefits all.
