By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Youths, women, industry leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders in the digital world have been challenged to embrace and champion digital transformation across the African continent.
The call was made by various authorities during the opening ceremony of the 15th edition of the ICT4Africa Conference, which kicked off in Yaounde, Cameroon, on July 15.
The five-day conference brings together youths, women, industry leaders, tech enthusiasts, policymakers, and innovators from across the continent under the theme “Digital Transformation: Current Trends, Future Insights.”
The conference was founded by Professor Victor Mbarika, President and Founder of the ICT University. Six countries, including Cameroon, are participating in the conference.
Speaking during the opening ceremony on July 16, Minette Libom Li Likeng, Minister of Post and Telecommunications, MINPOSTEL commended the initiative of the ICT University. She said the conference will help to showcase what ICT can do in different sectors.
“The impact of the conference will help the African continent to bridge the gap and be actors and to define the way of doing things according to our culture,” she said. “We need to introduce ICT into the heart of all that we are doing because ICT is powerful for boosting all that we are doing.”
The Minister added, “This conference has the potential to open our minds to the opportunities available in developing our countries and the continent at large. It will help us meet up with the digitalized world in terms of ranking.”
Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, in a keynote address, also commended the ICT University for its work in digitalization within the African continent.
“Nigeria has been part of this development in Africa during and after my time as president, and we will continue as pillars of the continent, to advocate and bring up young minds on the importance of digitalization of ICT and Artificial intelligence,” Obasanjo said.
Victor Mbarika, President and Founder of the ICT University said, “During the ongoing conference, many youths will be showcasing heartwarming innovations to better our country. We also want to look into the funding of these young people in order to foster their growth in the digital sector.”
Emmanuel Pondi, Rector of the ICT University, stated the aim is to make Africa a better place, admired by all. “We want our continent to be an influential place where people will admire us so much. In order to accomplish this dream, we need to carry out development on our ancestral lands and make it a better place through the advancement of technological digitalization,” he said.
It is worth noting that the global conference has been hosted by different countries worldwide. This year’s edition marks the introduction of the Youth and Women in Tech Summit, reflecting the conference’s commitment to inclusivity and innovation.
The focus will be on empowering the next generation of tech leaders and promoting gender equality in the tech industry. This aims to inspire and equip young people and women with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the digital age.
The conference will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, academic presentations, workshops, and networking dinners. A dedicated exhibition area will showcase innovative ICT solutions from startups, established companies, and research institutions.
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