Uganda will from March 21-24th host an international conference on ICT for Africa at Makerere university business school under the theme; ‘Africa’s E-Inclusion: Defying the Odds and Leading the Way in Global ICT Innovation’.
Digital technology has changed numerous activities in the world and continues to do so. The digital revolution has already matured in developed countries however, developing countries, especially in Africa, are yet to realize the full potential of the benefits of technology.
It is true that Africa has in recent years made tremendous progress from being a technological desert to a growing technological forest.
The adoption and diffusion of Information and Telecommunication Technology (ICT) in Africa is growing as evidenced by the upsurge in mobile markets and emerging innovative application in e-banking, e-business, telemedicine (e-health), e-learning, e-government, e-democracy, e-agriculture, e-procurement and more.
As we entered the new millennium, Africa progressed from technological desert to emergent sustainable growth in ICT. Within the first decade of the millennium, several innovations emanated from African countries, such as, the continent is also joining the league of ICT producing countries and Africa is witnessing increased capacity for consumption.
While the problems being reported on the development of ICT in Africa might have not completely disappeared, the current challenges are definitely different. For example, the problem is no longer about access to modern ICT devices but the continent is now being confronted with the effect of the adoption and utilization of ICT.
Electronic payments system is taking root on the continent where public servants are paid salaries and pensioners receive their pension directly to their accounts.
Mobile commerce through mobile/cell phone transactions without going through traditional banking systems has penetrated both rural and urban centres of some African nations. East African countries have embraced the M-Commerce.
Automated teller machines (ATM) have spread across the continent but this technological adoption faces issues of security and identity theft. Teledensity is no longer an issue but the effect of the telecom on the environment is posing a serious threat.
These concerns are now similar to the issues in the western world. It is time that the concept of digital divide be re-examined and the stock of innovation and technological advancement from Africa for Africans be taken and reported.
There are numerous cases of African championed initiatives for Africa which are worth showcasing. From launching of submarine fibre optics cable linking Africa to Europe to Financial Switching backbone. Such success stories abound.
With this background, Africa is ready to position itself for the three foremost interrelated technological advances namely; the mobile platform, cloud computing and software as a service. All these will be examined in the context of green computing or green ICT.
The conference will bring together some of Africa’s leaders in this area to discuss creation of culturally sensitive applications that are applicable in the African context.
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