FEATURE : IT SKILLS
Africa ’ s threepronged strategy to overcome skills challenge
Africa ’ s ability to bridge the digital skills gap requires building expertise , retaining expertise , and attracting expertise as well . Executives from SAS , Dariel Software , CRS Technologies , share their thoughts .
As we navigate the contours of the Fourth Industrial Revolution , it is becoming evident that Africa , with its unique challenges and untapped potential , has a critical role to play . It is important for the continent to start bridging the AI and technology skills gap to contribute to creating an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem .
As far back as 2017 , the World Economic Forum predicted that nearly half of all jobs in Africa could be potentially automated by existing technology . The McKinsey Global Institute reinforced this but shifted the focus to state that more than double this number of new jobs could be created due to AI and automation adoption by 2030 . “ However , we cannot ignore the skills gap that needs to be bridged to leverage these opportunities ,” says Zafir Junaid , Regional Director Africa and Middle East , Growth Markets SAS .
The key lies in building human capacity and fostering an environment conducive to digital innovation . This calls for an investment not only in AI itself , but in the people who will drive it . “ We believe that the secret source to harnessing the power of AI is data . However , data without analytics is value that is not yet realised ,” adds Junaid .
Africa ’ s digital economy , or iGDP , could account for as much as 10 % of total GDP , while producing a leap forward in economic and social development . Data and analytics , therefore , present a golden opportunity to leverage the power of AI to drive economic growth in Africa .
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