Global Digital Value Chain: Africa’s Status and Way Forward | IGF 2023 WS #311

Kossi Amessinou

According to the analysis, it has been found that several African governments are actively supporting investment in digital infrastructure. This is a significant development as it indicates a major shift in Africa’s role in the digital landscape. The provision of digital infrastructure is crucial for ensuring digital availability across the continent. Without adequate investment in infrastructure, digital services and connectivity would not be possible.

Furthermore, the analysis highlights that governments in Africa, particularly in West Africa and specifically Benin, are offering subsidies to the private sector to incentivise and support investment. This creates numerous investment opportunities, particularly in areas such as broadband implementation in rural areas. Such initiatives encourage the private sector to contribute to the expansion of digital infrastructure and bridge the digital divide within the continent.

The analysis also emphasizes the need for increased investment in data centres and internet exchange points. These facilities play a crucial role in ensuring local internet traffic and lowering costs. By establishing well-equipped data centres and internet exchange points, Africa can benefit from efficient and cost-effective local data networks.

Additionally, the analysis presents an argument regarding the freedom of internet service providers to offer services at lower costs. This argument suggests that governments should allow greater flexibility in regulations to enable service providers to lower their prices. An example from Benin indicates that internet service providers can receive licences by city, which not only helps in reducing service costs but also promotes competition and improves access to affordable internet services for users.

In conclusion, the analysis reveals the changing landscape of digital infrastructure investment in Africa. African governments are actively supporting investment, and the private sector is presented with several opportunities to contribute to the expansion of digital infrastructure. Furthermore, the importance of increasing investment in data centres and internet exchange points is highlighted. Lastly, the argument is made for enabling internet service providers to offer services at lower costs to enhance affordability and accessibility. Overall, these findings underscore the significant progress being made in Africa’s digital ecosystem and the potential for further growth and development.

Thabo Mashegoane

Africa is facing the need to transition from a consumption-based economy to a more sustainable model that focuses on becoming producers and manufacturers. This shift is crucial for the continent to achieve its sustainable development goals. It is predicted that Africa will become the most populated continent with a significant number of young people, who are likely to possess an average of four devices per individual over the next three to five decades.

While Africa’s potential youth population and their high device ownership may offer opportunities, relying solely on a consumption-based economy will not be sufficient to accomplish sustainable development goals. Africa needs to move towards a more productive and manufacturing-focused economic model. This transition requires a strategic roadmap that includes capacity development and the establishment of production facilities.

The roadmap for Africa’s transition to a producer and manufacturer-oriented economy starts with capacity development. It is essential to enhance the skills and knowledge of the workforce to meet the demands of a shifting economic landscape. Investing in quality education and vocational training programs becomes imperative in preparing the African population for jobs in the manufacturing sector. Strengthening technical skills and promoting entrepreneurship can also contribute to the development of a vibrant manufacturing industry.

Alongside capacity development, the establishment of production facilities is vital. Africa must build the infrastructure and create a conducive environment for manufacturing industries to thrive. This includes ensuring a reliable supply chain, access to affordable energy, modern technology, and supportive policies and regulations. By promoting local production and reducing reliance on imports, African countries can strengthen their economies, create employment opportunities, and encourage sustainable development.

It is important to note that a positive sentiment is associated with the transition from a consumption-based economy to a producer and manufacturer-oriented model in Africa. This shift is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8, which focuses on decent work and economic growth, and SDG 9, which emphasizes industry, innovation, and infrastructure.

In conclusion, Africa’s journey towards sustainable development requires a shift from a consumption-based economy to one that prioritizes production and manufacturing. The continent’s projected rise in population, particularly the youth demographic, presents both opportunities and challenges. By implementing a strategic roadmap that includes capacity development and the establishment of production facilities, Africa can harness its potential, create sustainable economic growth, and achieve the SDGs. It is essential for African nations to embrace this transition and invest in the necessary infrastructure and skills development to secure a prosperous and sustainable future.

Inye Kembonta

Africa possesses a wealth of human and natural resources that have the potential to contribute significantly to its economic growth. These resources include various minerals that can aid in the manufacturing of infrastructure required for the internet. However, Africa has struggled to fully retain the value chain and capitalize on its resources, which has hindered its economic development.

There is a pressing need for policy development in Africa to address this issue. The continent must establish effective policies that enable it to take advantage of its abundant resources and play a more active role in global discussions related to the internet governance forum.

Inye Kembonta emphasizes the importance of African solutions in benefiting Africa as a whole. It is suggested that African solutions be defined to include existing solutions that are rooted in the continent. By highlighting the unique contributions that Africa can make to the global value chain, it can have a greater influence and derive more benefits from its resources.

However, Kembonta argues that Africa has not effectively utilized its resources. Despite the abundance of resources, both human and natural, Africa has struggled to convert them into a significant part of the global value chain. This underscores the need for better resource management and responsible consumption and production practices.

Furthermore, Kembonta advocates for government engagement with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to foster partnerships and collaboration. By involving NGOs in discussions and initiatives, the government can benefit from their expertise and perspectives, leading to more inclusive policies that address the digital sector’s challenges and opportunities in Africa.

In conclusion, Africa’s vast human and natural resources hold immense potential for economic growth. However, it is crucial for the continent to retain more of the value chain, exploit its resources effectively, develop appropriate policies, and engage with NGOs to foster partnerships. By doing so, Africa can position itself as a key player in the digital landscape, contributing to its own development and the global internet governance discourse.

Melissa Sassi

Melissa Sassi is a venture partner at Machine Lab Ventures, where her focus is on enabling tech entrepreneurs to effectively build, scale, and potentially exit their businesses. She prioritizes the importance of digital innovation and financial well-being in this process, particularly within the African context.

In Africa, Melissa Sassi emphasizes the crucial role that digital technologies play in driving economic growth. She specifically highlights the significance of entrepreneurship and the youth in this regard. She provides evidence from various articles that underscore the value of digital technologies and youth entrepreneurship in transforming Africa. Her belief in the potential of these factors to contribute significantly to the continent’s development is evident.

Melissa Sassi advocates for a practical and real-world-oriented education model. She places importance on skills such as storytelling, critical thinking, building partnerships, and financial management. By promoting this type of education, she aims to equip individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in today’s world.

Furthermore, Melissa Sassi emphasizes the importance of fostering an entrepreneurial culture within universities to drive growth and development. She suggests a project-based learning approach at the university level, with a focus on cultivating a growth mindset and entrepreneurial skills. This approach encourages students to think creatively, take risks, and develop the mindset necessary for entrepreneurial success.

Overall, Melissa Sassi’s work demonstrates her dedication to supporting and empowering tech entrepreneurs, specifically in the African context. Her emphasis on digital innovation, practical education, and fostering an entrepreneurial culture contributes to economic growth and development. Her insights serve as inspiration for entrepreneurs and educators alike, providing valuable guidance for creating an environment conducive to innovation and progress.

Rachael Shitanda

Africa is facing challenges in its digital and economic development, and several arguments are presented on how the continent can overcome these challenges and unlock its potential. One crucial aspect is the need for Africa to leverage its own capacity and resources to address its digital and economic development problems.

One argument emphasises the importance of increased Internet connectivity and accessibility in Africa over the past two decades. This has attracted a significant number of startups to the continent, as they see new market potential and opportunities. The positive sentiment towards this argument suggests that leveraging the power of the Internet can be a game-changer for Africa’s economic growth.

Another argument focuses on the role of governments in encouraging local talent and facilitating the development of locally made products. The argument highlights the significance of strategies and initiatives aimed at nurturing local talent, which can significantly boost economic development. Providing favourable government policies in terms of business setup is also essential for stimulating entrepreneurship and creating a thriving startup ecosystem. The sentiment associated with this argument is positive, indicating a belief that governments have a crucial role to play in supporting and promoting local talent and businesses.

Furthermore, developing a high skill set and an entrepreneurial mindset is emphasised as another key factor in driving Africa’s digital and economic development. Proper education and training are seen as essential in nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset and developing the necessary skills. Additionally, the importance of capital investment within African communities is highlighted, suggesting that encouraging venture capitalism can further foster an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Africa.

A noteworthy observation from the analysis is the importance of nurturing homegrown solutions for the continent. While it is mentioned that most African startups are currently funded by venture capitalists from Eastern and Western countries, there is a sentiment that African populations should be empowered to invest in local startups. This highlights the need for Africans to take ownership of the development and growth of their own businesses and industries.

Another observation is the responsibility of governments in creating an enabling environment for business setup, providing good policies, employment opportunities, and stable currencies. Governments are seen as key players in creating favourable conditions for economic growth and reducing inequalities.

In conclusion, the various arguments presented all underline the need for Africa to leverage its own capacity and resources in addressing its digital and economic development problems. This includes increasing Internet connectivity, encouraging local talent and homegrown products, nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset through high skills and venture capitalism, and ensuring that governments provide good policies and employment opportunities. By embracing these strategies, Africa can unlock its tremendous potential for economic growth and development.

Joanna Kulesza

The summary highlights the need for a comprehensive and well-aligned regulatory framework for internet infrastructure in Africa. This is due to SpaceX now starting its operations in Nigeria and the importance of broadband internet access, which involves international law, national regulations, and multi-stakeholder policies. The sentiment towards this argument is positive, emphasising the necessity of a regulatory framework to support internet infrastructures in Africa effectively.

Another argument raised is the scrutiny of non-African companies, like SpaceX, that offer connectivity services. It states that these companies should be thoroughly examined based on jurisdiction, security measures, and data handling. Questions arise concerning equipment ownership and access, as well as the content of collected data, access to it, and processing rights. The sentiment regarding this argument is neutral, suggesting a need for careful consideration and evaluation of these non-African companies operating in Africa.

Promoting stakeholder participation is considered vital in achieving sustainable internet access. This includes the involvement of governments and civil society in the decision-making process. The World Radio Conference, scheduled for later this year, aims to discuss these considerations. The conference would provide an opportunity for informed input from all stakeholders, enabling African countries to actively work towards ensuring sustainable development and internet access. The sentiment towards this argument is positive, recognising the importance of involving all stakeholders for effective and inclusive decision-making.

In conclusion, the expanded summary emphasises the need for a comprehensive regulatory framework, scrutiny of non-African companies providing connectivity services, and the importance of stakeholder participation in ensuring sustainable internet access in Africa. The World Radio Conference is highlighted as a platform for discussing these considerations and gaining input from all relevant stakeholders. Overall, the analysis provides insights into the challenges and opportunities involved in promoting internet infrastructure and inclusivity in Africa.

Bimbo Abioye

Africa is currently not very visible on the global digital value chain map, particularly in areas such as content creation and fintech. This lack of ownership and visibility can be attributed to internal challenges faced by Africa itself. These challenges include a non-supportive business environment and deficiencies in policy frameworks, capacity building, infrastructure development, access to finance, and research and development.

One argument is that African businesses often end up being sold due to the non-supportive environment they operate in. Additionally, Africa lags behind in critical areas such as policy and regulatory frameworks, capacity building, infrastructure development, and access to finance. These shortcomings highlight an urgent need for improvement in order to foster sustainable economic growth in Africa.

However, there is a recognition of the importance of enhancing these areas in Africa’s development. It is argued that urgent attention is required to enhance policy and regulatory frameworks, capacity building, infrastructure development, and access to finance. By addressing these deficiencies, Africa can unlock its potential for decent work and economic growth.

On a positive note, it is suggested that African businesses need to shift their perspective and focus more on future possibilities rather than solely on past and present circumstances. This shift in mindset is believed to be crucial in driving innovation and competitiveness in the digital economy.

In summary, Africa’s limited presence in the global digital value chain is attributed to internal challenges and deficiencies in critical areas such as policy frameworks, capacity building, infrastructure development, and access to finance. However, there is a positive sentiment towards addressing these issues urgently in order to unlock Africa’s potential for economic growth. Additionally, the need for a mindset shift to focus on future possibilities is emphasized as a crucial step in driving innovation and competitiveness in the digital economy.

Jimson Olufuye

Jimson Olufuye, the chair of the Adversary Council of Africa’s ICT Alliance, opened a workshop at the 18th Internet Governance Forum in Kyoto, Japan. The workshop aimed to address the Global Digital Value Chain and discuss Africa’s current status and future plans.

Jimson Olufuye’s opening remarks at the workshop highlighted his support for fulfilling the promise of the digital age for everyone in Africa. This vision is advocated by the Africa ICT Alliance, an organisation that works in collaboration with the African Union, UNECA, and African governments. Their shared objective is to bridge the digital divide and ensure that Africa can harness the full potential of the digital era.

With vast experience in the field, Jimson Olufuye is also a principal consultant at Contemporary Consulting, an IT firm based in Abuja. The firm specialises in data centres, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and online workflow research. This expertise reflects Jimson’s involvement and commitment to addressing key issues in the digital landscape, particularly in Africa.

The workshop, organised by the Africa ICT Alliance, provided a platform to discuss the Global Digital Value Chain. This chain encompasses various elements such as data centres, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and online workflow research. These aspects are crucial for driving innovation, supporting infrastructure development, and ensuring secure and efficient digital solutions.

The discussions held at the workshop aimed to provide insights into Africa’s current status and explore strategies to propel its digital growth. Jimson’s participation and expertise, alongside other stakeholders, contributed to a comprehensive analysis of the challenges, opportunities, and the way forward for Africa in the digital realm.

In conclusion, Jimson Olufuye, as the chair of the Adversary Council of Africa’s ICT Alliance, played a key role in opening a workshop at the 18th Internet Governance Forum. His support for the vision of fulfilling the promise of the digital age for everyone in Africa, as advocated by the Africa ICT Alliance, underpins the discussions held at the workshop. Additionally, his involvement as a principal consultant at Contemporary Consulting showcased his expertise in addressing crucial aspects of the digital landscape. The workshop provided a valuable opportunity to assess the Global Digital Value Chain and chart Africa’s path towards a prosperous digital future.

Bernard Ewah

After analysing the given information, several key points emerge:

1. The National Information Technology Agency (NITA) in Nigeria is striving to improve regulations and enhance the quality of device components. This is important in order to enhance customer experience and increase market gains in the country’s tech industry. Nigerian entrepreneurs have faced challenges in the market with device assembly, so these efforts by NITA aim to address these issues and drive growth in the sector.

2. It is essential to understand the structure of the labour market and the potential impact of technology adoption. With a significant proportion of the economy operating in the informal sector, there is a need to comprehend the existing structure and identify where technology can make a difference. This understanding will contribute to the achievement of SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

3. The digitisation of traditional services like hair braiding and carpentry can bring about numerous benefits. By creating digital platforms, services that were traditionally limited to local markets can be expanded and made accessible to a wider audience. This not only opens up new market opportunities but also enhances the reach and impact of these services.

4. It is suggested that the focus should be placed on addressing the “low-hanging fruit” in African markets. This refers to goods that are currently unstructured and of low quality but are highly relied upon by the population. By implementing measures to improve the quality of these goods and enhance their structure, African markets can experience significant growth and development.

5. The value of natural resources, such as coal, has drastically changed over the past few decades. However, emerging resources like data are gaining increasing value. This highlights the importance of recognising and adapting to the transition in resource utilisation. Governments should be prepared to embrace new opportunities and adjust their strategies accordingly to maximise the benefits of these changing trends.

6. Governments play a vital role in acknowledging and adapting to the changing resource landscape. As certain resources become less valuable or utilised over time, it is crucial for governments to identify and prioritise emerging resources with rising worth. This supports the achievement of SDGs 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

7. Finally, the participation and contribution of the Nigerian government in the African Information and Communication Technology Alliance (AFICTA) is crucial. This partnership, in line with SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals, facilitates collaboration among various stakeholders and fosters a conducive environment for technological advancements and growth.

Overall, this analysis highlights the importance of improving regulations, enhancing the quality of device components, understanding the labour market, digitising traditional services, addressing low-hanging fruit, recognising the changing value of natural resources, adapting to resource transitions, and collaborating through platforms like AFICTA in order to achieve sustainable economic growth and development in Nigeria and across Africa.

Chidi Diugwu

The National Communications Commission (NCC) plays a crucial role in uplifting digital literacy in Nigeria by sponsoring the Digital Bridge Institute. This institution is specifically designed to enhance the technological skills and knowledge of Nigerian citizens. It offers various programs and courses aimed at upskilling public servants and other individuals in the field of digital literacy.

The NCC’s sponsorship of the Digital Bridge Institute showcases its commitment to human capacity development. By investing in such initiatives, the NCC acknowledges the importance of equipping individuals with the necessary skills to thrive in the digital age. Through its support, the NCC aims to bridge the digital divide and empower Nigerians to fully participate in the growing digital economy.

The positive sentiment towards the NCC’s efforts in promoting digital literacy is evident in the widespread support it receives. The NCC’s commitment to research and development is evident through the establishment of a dedicated department. This signifies the NCC’s continuous efforts to stay abreast of technological advancements and to provide relevant resources and tools necessary for digital literacy development.

Furthermore, by linking digital literacy efforts to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as Quality Education (SDG 4) and Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9), the NCC demonstrates its recognition of the wider socio-economic benefits that come with enhanced digital literacy. By aligning its efforts with these global goals, the NCC reinforces the importance of digital literacy as a key enabler for sustainable development.

In conclusion, the NCC’s sponsorship of the Digital Bridge Institute in Nigeria is a commendable initiative aimed at improving digital literacy. By providing programs and courses to enhance the skills of public servants and other Nigerians in the field, the NCC actively contributes to human capacity development. The positive sentiment and widespread support for the NCC’s efforts reflect the recognition of the importance of digital literacy in shaping a prosperous future for Nigeria.

Mary Uduma

The analysis highlighted several key points discussed by the speakers. Firstly, concerns were raised about the lack of significant participation of African businesses in digital processes, indicating the need for training African youth and business people to increase their engagement in the global digital value chain. This involves equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to actively participate in digital activities, which can contribute to the growth of Africa’s digital economy.

Secondly, the analysis recognised the remarkable growth of fintech in Africa, with a focus on the success of M-Pesa in Kenya and the industry’s expansion in Nigeria. M-Pesa, a mobile payments platform, has not only transformed the financial landscape in Kenya but has also been adopted by other countries in the region. The rise of e-commerce platforms like Jumia and Conga in Nigeria further demonstrates the increasing digitalization and consumer adoption of digital platforms across Africa.

Lastly, the analysis underscored the need for stringent measures to protect data and ensure its security, particularly with regards to human rights. Concerns were raised about the storage and safety of collected data in an increasingly digital world. Advocacy for data protection and security measures is crucial to safeguard individuals’ privacy rights and prevent unauthorized access or misuse of personal information.

Overall, the analysis reflects a positive sentiment towards Africa’s potential to enhance its participation in the global digital value chain. It highlights the importance of investing in training and skills development to empower Africa’s youth and business communities. Additionally, it recognizes the significant growth and impact of fintech, exemplified by M-Pesa and e-commerce platforms. Furthermore, it emphasizes the urgency of implementing robust data protection measures in line with human rights considerations. This comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in Africa’s digital era underscores the need for strategic interventions and collaborations to harness the potential of digital technologies for sustainable economic growth and social development in Africa.

Olutoyin Justus Oloniteru

The speakers engage in a discussion regarding Africa’s progress in the digital sphere, emphasising the need for an unbiased self-appraisal. They highlight several factors that have contributed to this progress. One notable development is the Africa ICT Alliance, which has played a crucial role in changing the dynamics of digital progress in Africa. Despite not existing 30 years ago, the alliance now serves as a catalyst for digital innovation and advancement in the continent.

Furthermore, the expansion of companies such as MTN and Eko Network into Nigeria has had a significant impact on the digital landscape of Africa. These expansions have not only brought about economic growth and job opportunities but also enhanced connectivity and access to technology in the region.

The discussion also highlights the importance of crowdfunding and crowdsourcing for technological development in Africa. The promotion of these strategies has allowed individuals and organizations across the continent to raise funds for technological projects, thereby fostering innovation and growth in the digital sector.

However, concerns are raised about the potential detrimental effects of the financial influence of the West and East on Africa’s digital landscape. The argument is made that these external sources of funding often prioritize their own returns on investment over the development of Africa’s digital infrastructure and capabilities. As a counterpoint, it is proposed that Africans can take charge of their own financial destiny through collective crowdfunding efforts. By relying on their own people for funding, Africa can minimize the influence of external interests and ensure that digital progress is aligned with the needs and aspirations of the continent.

Another significant aspect discussed is the importance of developing and utilizing African solutions to address African problems. The speakers highlight the field of hardware manufacturing as one area where African innovation and expertise can be harnessed to create solutions that specifically cater to the continent’s needs. By supporting local initiatives and encouraging entrepreneurship in this sector, not only can Africa address its challenges more effectively, but it can also create job opportunities and foster economic growth.

Overall, the speakers conclude that Africa’s progress in the digital sphere should be objectively examined through an unbiased self-appraisal. While external financial influence can be a potential obstacle, the continent has the potential to overcome this challenge by relying on its own resources and fostering a culture of innovation and self-sufficiency. By embracing crowdfunding, supporting local initiatives, and creating African solutions for African problems, Africa can continue to make significant strides in its digital transformation journey.

Jimson Olufuye:
Okay, it’s two minutes after. I think we can start now. Konnichiwa. Yeah, that is a greetings in Japanese to everyone in the room and to those who have joined us online and those following us through the regional hubs. So welcome to workshop number 311, Global Digital Value Chain Africa’s status and way forward. This workshop is being put together by the Africa ICT Alliance AFICTA and is happening at the 18th Internet Governance Forum taking place here in Kyoto, Japan. With the theme, Internet we want, the Internet we want, empowering all people. And this particular workshop is under the sub-theme of digital divides and inclusion. My name is Jameson Olufoye. I have the privilege of being the chair of the Adversary Council of Africa’s ICT Alliance AFICTA. Talking about AFICTA, AFICTA is a concerned private sector led alliance of ICT association companies and individual IT professionals in Africa founded in 2012 with six country membership, but now in more than 40 countries in Africa. Our vision is to fulfill the promise of the digital age for everyone in Africa. And in doing so, we collaborate with the AU, UNECA, African government, especially the government of the Arab Republic of Egypt and through ATESAL and also through the Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy in Nigeria. In the spirit of multi-stakeholder engagement, which is the bedrock of Internet Governance Forum as outlined in the Tunis agenda of the World Summit on Information Society 2005. So we want to thank all our stakeholders for connecting and working with us thus far. The chair of AFICTA will be talking more during his opening remark. So one of the positive things that came out of this WSIS and Internet Governance is AFICTA indeed. And on the chat room, you can get a link to our website to know more about AFICTA. Well, by my day job, I’m the principal consultant at Contemporary Consulting. It’s an IT firm based in Abuja. We work on data center, mitigate cybersecurity issues, provide cloud computing solution, online workflow research. We do a lot of research. So I’ll be your on-site moderator for this workshop. We have also online moderator and that is Mr. E.E. Kemabunta. Mr. E.E. Kemabunta is the national coordinator of AFICTA and is also the CEO of Tech Law. Mr. Kemabunta, are you there? Please say hello if you are there. Hello, yes, I’m here. Good morning and good evening. Good afternoon, wherever you are joining us from. Thank you. All right. Thank you very much, Mr. Kemabunta. And we also have, speaking in this panel, as I mentioned, the chair of AFICTA, Mr. Thabo Masegwani, the former president, Institute of IT Professionals of South Africa, will be giving his opening remark. We have a very rich panel of on-site and online speakers. In no particular order, as I introduced them, though they will also talk more about what they do as they intervene. I have Mr. Bimbo Abiyoie, who is the president of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria and the group MD Fintrack Software, Nigeria Limited, representing the private sector. We also have Dr. Kosi Amesuno, Amesuno, Chief of World Bank Division in the Ministry of Economic and Finance of the Benin Republic. Dr. Kosi, are you there? Yeah, Dr. Kosi is there. Is Mr. Bimbo there online? Yes, I’m here. Good morning. Good morning. Great. Good day. All right. Then we have Professor Yoan Kuleza, representing Academia in Europe. Professor Yoan, are you in the house? Sorry, yes, I am. I’m looking forward to the panel. Thank you for having me. Oh, great. Then we have the Amazon of IT Governance, Internet Governance in Nigeria. Mrs. Mary Uduma is also the coordinator of the West African IGF, representing the civil society. Dr. Melissa Sassi, representing the private sector in North America. Are you in the house, Dr. Melissa? Yes, I am. Thank you for having me, and thank you for representing us in Kyoto. Oh, great. Thank you. Good to see you and hear your voice. Yeah, you too. You too. Thank you, everyone. Okay. Next is Mr. Toyi Oloniteru, the CEO of DAPT, representing the private sector. Mr. Toyi, are you in the room? Yes, yes, I’m with you. Good morning from Nigeria, and good afternoon from elsewhere. We are talking from different locations, but it’s very early morning in Nigeria now. It’s a pleasure to be with you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next is Miss Jane Coven, representing the technical community in North America. Jane, are you in the room? Okay, actually Jane is in a session now, and she will join us before the end of the program. Next is Miss Rachel Chitanda, Executive Officer, Computer Society of Kenya, a strong member of AFICTA, from the private sector. Miss Rachel, are you in the room? Yes, yes. Good morning and good evening to everyone. It’s nice to be here. Looking forward to the conversation. Okay, great to see you. Next is Dr. Ben Ewa. Dr. Ben Ewa is the Acting Director, e-Government, at the National Information Technology Development Agency of Nigeria, representing the government. Dr. Ben. Thank you very much. It’s nice to meet you all. Okay, and also, we have one of the Distinguished guests, Senator Afolabi Salesu, I don’t know if he’s around. He will join us because of the program. He’s the Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT and Cybercrime in the National Assembly of Nigeria, representing the parliament. So this is how it’s going to go. Each speaker will have about three minutes to speak for the two rounds we’re going to go through of policy questions, covering about 60 minutes. So we hope that at the end of the two rounds of discussion, then we can take input from the audience and Q&A from the audience. So the Chair of AFRICTA, Mr. Salaesu, Thabo Ezeguani, please, the floor is yours for your opening remark. Thank you.

Thabo Mashegoane:
Much appreciated, Dr. Jimson. And good morning to everyone who is in Africa and Kunishiwa for those in Kyoto. I had just learned the new word. We have to continually learn as we go along. Ladies and gentlemen, there is an old adage that says, if you’re not on the agenda, you become part of the menu. And I think this actually speaks a lot to a discussion we’re going to have today, where Africa is poised to become one of the most populated continent with youngsters into the next 30 to 50 years. And we will see ourselves in a scenario where each individual has on average about four devices. But however, what we see here is the issue of more on the consumption side. And we have to ask ourselves the question of how do we then transition from a consumption-based economy into being more of producers and manufacturers? And we have to ask ourselves as we continue, whether as Africa, will we be able to accomplish the sustainable development goals with only as a consumption-based economy? We need to ask ourselves, what then are the low-hanging fruits in transitioning from being consumption-based into being largely a producer? Of course, there’s many approaches to this. One being that you can do a big bang approach. We know practically it’s interesting to do that, but perhaps we need to have a roadmap that starts with capacity development right into establishing production facilities in Africa and having Africa to participate and partake in this value chains of digital. Ladies and gentlemen, I think there will be a lot of expected discussion going into the panel. And I don’t want to take a lot of time. Let’s just give a round of applause to our panel who will give us an expert opinion on this topic. I thank you.

Jimson Olufuye:
Thank you very much, Chair. And in fact, all the panelists, because you have to wake up very early. I think in Nigeria it’s about past 5 a.m. and in some other places around midnight. So we really appreciate your sacrifice and commitment. Thank you, Chair, for that direction. I will now yield to my colleague, moderator, the online Angu, Mr. Ye Kemabunta, for the next item on the agenda. Mr. Ye Kemabunta, please.

Inye Kembonta:
Okay, thank you. Thank you, Jameson. I have the honor to speak briefly on the workshop, but incidentally, when the chairman of AFICTA, Thabo, spoke, he did an excellent job in explaining what has brought us to this workshop, actually. So I run the risk of repeating him, so I’m going to be careful. And your introductions too give a hint as to where we’re headed. So the workshop has been thought through and put together to help stakeholders, as it were, discuss the issues surrounding the global digital value chain, as the chain affects Africa. Africa is a repository of several minerals that aid manufacturing of certain kinds of infrastructure for the internet. Africa has human, therefore, has human resources and material resources, but it does appear that we have. has really achieved essential retention of the value chain. So what has gone wrong? We’re gonna be talking about looking at it and I want to make it a bit balanced since we’re discussing inclusivity here. Is Africa really included deliberately in the process? Answer may be yes, it may be not quite. I can’t foretell, the panelists will have a go at it and explain how Africa can get more of the value chain. Would there need to be some concessions to Africa? Would Africa need to step up its policy development? These are issues that will come up this workshop looking at value retention and having not to be a consumer continent all through but also taking advantage of its own resources especially material that are abundant really in Africa. How can those be exploited, explored and exploited to help Africa take its place in an inclusive process of internet governance forum? So that’s essentially where we’re here. We’ll be putting questions to the panelists who are professionals in their own right. Unfortunately, the time doesn’t allow for the deep dive by every speaker. So we ask that the speakers go straight to the point, be brief, cover the grounds in just about three minutes. We’re gonna have two rounds of the discussion. So that’s essentially what we’re here for, what the workshop is about. Thank you, Jameson.

Jimson Olufuye:
Thank you very much, Mr. Kemabunta for putting it very clearly. I also have no doubts that our panelists will do justice to the subject. But before we go ahead, I’ll just recognize the director in charge of technology and innovation at the UNECA, that’s Dr. Maktasek. Dr. Maktasek, you’re welcome. Again, welcome to everyone. Now to the policy questions. We just have two policy questions. I will take one, then Mr. Eyea will take the second one and all our speakers will take one after the other as Eyea mentioned. This first policy question has two parts. So we just encourage our panelists to respond to them in succession. Considering that Africa is rated as a continent with the least contribution to the global digital value chain as evidenced through the dilemma experienced in the advent of the COVID-19. So A, how inclusive is the global digital value chain? And as a consensus stakeholder, what are the initiatives or actions required to take, the action we require to take to amend the abnormal scenario. And the follow-up to that, which is the second part of this first question, is kindly identify soft areas through which Africa could penetrate the global digital value chain and the benefits the continent would derive. And so I’m going to invite Mr. Bimbo Abuye, the group MD of FinTrack, for the for your submission. Sorry, he needs to have his video and microphone turned down. Would the host please assist? Okay, great. There he is. Thank you. Thank you, everyone, the moderators, the audience, everywhere we are, in any part of the world. Yes, as has been… I don’t know why you guys… Go ahead, we can hear you. Proceed.

Bimbo Abioye:
Okay, thanks. Yes, from the global digital value chain, we are talking about the creation and production, distribution, consumption, and ownership of digital content and platforms. And when you look at all the ecosystem, from maybe car banking, caprice solutions, to payment processing and fintech, to cyber security, research and development, to cryptocurrency, to digital marketing and advertising, video streaming, and what have you. Cloud computing and infrastructure. It is very evident and clear that Africa is nowhere on the map. There may be a lot of presence on the content creation in some climates, and also maybe fintech. We are also into consumption and creation, but definitely not ownership. So Africa as a continent is already on a super high way to becoming a digital slave in the ecosystem, which is very, very unfortunate. What can we do? Unfortunately, it’s like everything is really getting cast, but it’s not too late to still make some changes. The problem with Africa is Africa itself. I wish there are things other parts of the world can do to help Africa. I think they are doing their bit, but even in their attempts to help, ownership is taken away. We have some unicorns on the African continent today, but all our unicorns have been sold because there is no supportive environment in Africa, even for African businesses. So, what can we do differently? We need to up our game on policy and regulatory frameworks. We need to up our game on capacity building and skill development. We need to up our game on research and development. These areas we are lagging behind. Access to finance is another very big area that we need to up our game on. Unfortunately for us in Africa, even the way we value things, we look too much to the past and the present, and that puts us at a disadvantage. Many organizations that are digital-minded, they are looking more at the future. Oh, this company is struggling now. If I publish this form, it will enable it to do things that will enhance value. But we are fixated by what the company has been able to do and what it’s doing now as a prism to look at its future. So these things have to radically shift, and governments across Africa have got to also get involved in enabling access to finance. Without finance, there can’t be much impact in development. And of course, infrastructure development is another very critical area that governments across Africa have to play a very clear role. Access to infrastructure like roads, ports, utilities, power, the cost of doing business in Africa is very, very high, and it puts us at a disadvantage. If all this can be done, Africa will take its place in the digital ecosystem. Thank you very much, Mr. Amartey.

Jimson Olufuye:
Thank you very much, Mr. Abiy. As the president of ISPON, it would be good to hear what ISPON will do or how ISPON will respond even to this subject matter. Thank you for all the points you have outlined. I will move to the next speaker. And that is Dr. Kossi Amasinu. Dr. Kossi.

Kossi Amessinou:
Thank you, Chairman. I thank also Africa for inviting me. It is our third time now making workshop together. Okay. We are often ahead some experts saying every time that Africa is no longer something like land of consumption. Africa is the land of consumption of digital. Digital coming from another place. But it’s important to know that that position are changing now. That position are very changing. Since COVID-19 time, we have some collective awareness that must encourage and also energize for us in Africa. The availability of digital technology is not possible if we don’t have massive investment in digital infrastructure. Several African governments understood that today. When we see in our area in West Africa, for example, in Benin, we know that private sector cannot invest in the area where profitability of the investment is not very clearly for short and middle term now. Governments now in our area, including Benin, we offer private sector several opportunity. We provide subsidy within framework of transparent call of intent. When we need to put some specific infrastructure somewhere, for example, we need to have broadband in rural area. We call private sector people and tell them how kind of investment you need to do this job. And we provide them subsidy to support the gap of resource. It’s important for us today to construct that is important to have new approach. for investment in the infrastructure area in Africa. We have one approach called methodology of synergy, inter-network synergy. This approach mean we’re supposed to take into account that methodology when we are designing project, when we are planning, when we are deploying, when we are maintaining the infrastructure we’re supposed to do in telecommunication area, in electricity area, in transport providing area. When we have, for example, we have a project to build the roads, we know that we need to make more action in that area to less pass also the network of telecommunication, the network of water, the network of electricity. When we take this into account and discuss more with private sector, also government, and see how we can help together, we reduce the cost of investment of project. We have also some challenge in our area. What is data? We need data center and internet exchange point. But when we build data center and internet exchange point is for one result. We’re supposed to have our data, our internet traffic locally. Internet is good, but if I want to call somebody in the same country with me, and I use internet bandwidth, it’s not profitable. It’s really good for us to have our local network usable. If I call somebody in the same area, the cost will be very low for me. Another point is our regulation today. How can we regulate the digital sector in our region? More time, we understand internet service providers say, the cost is high, we don’t take more investment to provide service for our clients. Today, for example in Benin, we have the license by city. The people who have their internet service provider can receive now the license by city, build their network and provide service. That is make the price very low for people who will need that internet service. We have also the challenge of literacy, digital literacy. We can make some people outside the internet today. It’s important for us to teach people, to let them know what is internet, and use that internet in ethical area. Because we know, we understand cyber security, cyber security, we can work on it by awareness.

Jimson Olufuye:
Thank you Chairman. Excellent, excellent. That is from the government perspective. A lot of work you are already doing there. Well, we still take all the inputs. Let me turn to Professor Kulesa, Joanna Kulesa. Please, you have the mic. The mic is muted, the mic is muted. Yes, indeed, I did unmute it right now.

Joanna Kulesza:
Thank you so much. I am thrilled to join the AFICTA panel again. Thank you for having me. I have been listening in on the discussion with much attention, and I do hope to be able to contribute with a case study that might address the concerns that were mentioned by previous speakers. So I do note that there is a need for comprehensive, well-aligned regulatory framework. Looking at the challenge that has been addressed somewhat from the outside, I welcome the observations from the insiders. As the case study, I would like to put on the table for discussion does reflect those concerns. I also note the need for coordinated capacity building and the reliance on infrastructures as offered by non-African companies. Now, having consulted with the organizers, please let me propose one case study, one suggestion here that might be of interest during this IGF meeting. There have been quite a few sessions organized around new developing internet infrastructures that are allowing connectivity, particularly in underserved regions and in developing countries. In this context, it might be useful for us to look into the policy challenge for the location of those specific services in the global value chain with due regard to Africa. Now, the picture you see on your screens is the availability of SpaceX, non-African company and its services to regions in Africa in developing countries, particularly in those which are challenged when it comes to connectivity. I would like to propose this discussion in the context of sustainable development goals. The overarching purpose is to ensure that the next billion is connected and that connection is stable, secure and offered in a sustainable way. When we look at the specific development in the global value chain, we would note that there is a rapid rise both in demand and in supply when it comes to these developing, not so novel, but rapidly developing technologies. Just recently, at the beginning of this year, SpaceX announced that it will start operation in Nigeria. Now, it might be relevant for us to question how that operation is going to function, how the sustainable development goals will be achieved with a non-African company offering that service with governmental support to individual end users. Now, I believe that a recently completed project supported by the Internet Society Foundation on that specific purpose offers a few suggestions. You will find more information here. I do not wish to take up too much time, but if you were seeking recommendations for both policy and civil society engagement into the specific components of the global value chain, do consider clicking on the link at the address given above. The report presented for the Internet Society Foundation within its Decolonizing the Internet theme looks at various policy aspects of low-Earth orbit satellites, including the services offered by the company headed by Mr. Musk. I will refrain here from highlighting specific cases where these policy issues have recently become relevant, but it is not just connecting the next billion of users, but it is also ensuring access in times of conflict or internal turmoil, just to mention the war in Ukraine or the situation in Iran. So, if developing countries, we call them non-space-faring nations, those who do not yet have access to space technologies, wish to develop their policies and inform civil society in a consistent manner, allowing them to reach for that low-hanging fruit of technology that is already being offered slowly to African states, they might consider raising awareness around the regulatory landscape of broadband satellite technologies. Just very briefly, the landscape might not be as simple as one might think. So, when we do consider broadband Internet access, it is not just national regulation. One could go even as far as to say that national regulation might not be sufficient. We would probably view that component of Internet infrastructure from a broader perspective, and that would encompass both international law, national regulations, but also, with us meeting here at the IGF, the policies developed in a multi-stakeholder manner. So, when we look at that specific technologies, all of those components should be considered. On the website in the report, but also accompanying the report, you will find two cheat sheets. So, ready-made documents with questions that both the governments and civil society, respectively, might wish to answer before they allow a private company offering these specific services. I’ve put on a slide here simply the questions for civil society, ensuring that we would have their representation here in the room, but there is a dedicated policy cheat sheet policy report also for governments. We do consider Internet access a human right, and when a new technology comes and offers Internet access to those who have been behind the digital divide, the government is quick to act to make sure that the citizens are satisfied and actually do have connectivity. But questions to be asked include those around jurisdiction, include those around security. Who owns this equipment? Who has access to it? access there too, who may decide to switch it off in times of conflict, as you might have observed recently over Ukraine. Finally, a vital component that was already mentioned by one of the previous speakers is data. When these new fundamental technologies are introduced into jurisdiction, both civil society and governments should ask questions about data, the content of data collected, the access there too, and the processing rights. Again, we’ve been asked to speak simply for three minutes as an introduction, so I will leave you with this slide. But just to summarize, if you’re looking to address this specific challenge, which is fundamental to connectivity in the region, do consider following or actively participating in the World Radio Conference happening later this year, where these considerations will be discussed, maybe not in a multi-stakeholder model, but with a particular focus on governments. And informed input from all stakeholders in a multi-stakeholder manner will, however, allow also African countries to take an active step towards ensuing sustainable development and sustainable internet access. I’ll stop here for the sake of time. There is more at the link provided, and I am always happy to answer questions. I’m looking forward to the second part of the panel.

Jimson Olufuye:
Thank you again for having me. Thank you very much, Prof. It’s like you are saying that the government has a lot to do with regards to ensuring that there is greater participation of Africa in the digital value chain. And in terms of participating in ITU, you know ITU is a treaty-making organization. But I’ll just use the opportunity to recognize that, indeed, most countries are encouraged to attend such events through. multi-stakeholder delegation, wherein the private sector, the civil society, and all relevant stakeholders are part of the country team. Thank you very much for highlighting that. Let me now turn to Miss Mary Uduma, speaking from the civil society perspective. Madam Mary Uduma. Madam Mary.

Mary Uduma:
Thank you. Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, wherever you are connecting. And thank you for being in this session. From my own perspective, my name is Mary Uduma, as we said. I coordinate the West Africa Internet Governance Forum. And in looking at Africa’s participation and in the process of the global digital value chain, I’m sorry. And for us, from the grassroots, we try to make sure that we are participating in our own little way, and raising these issues at the IGF, whenever we organize our national IGF or regional IGF. And more so, we are also interested in how this new process, new program, after affect the human rights. And we talked about the pandemic area. You now saw that we’re only dependent on the other people from outside Africa to help us. Even the one we developed within Africa, we were not able to, it didn’t go far. But the fact is that we need to consciously, we need to consciously, intentionally develop, will I call it engaging the engagement of and advocacy for participation of Africans in this value chain. And also developing our young people, developing our business people in particular, because our business people are not participating a lot in the process. So, and also making sure that our voices are not only heard, but we also be part of it. But I want to say, I want to raise one issue that Africa has done. One is the M-PESA and the FinTech area when M-PESA started from Kenya and other countries and the regions are adopting that. And so that is one of the contributions I can see. And we can see that FinTech is booming in our, especially in Nigeria. And we can see Jumia or Conga, people doing e-commerce. So those are where I think we are participating or we are contributing. So that’s for me where I could say that the business sector is doing. But come to human rights, we want standards. We want to be protected. Our data that is being gathered, we want it to be protected. So we are trying to, We are also concerned about where the data is housed, where it is stored, where it is stored, where it is stored. So we would try as much as possible to provide advocacy for data protection and safety of our data. We are also concerned about where this data, where they are housed. Okay? So we should also be part of, let’s see whether we can house our data within our continent and not depending on everything

Jimson Olufuye:
else. So we should also be part of, let’s see whether we can house our data within our continent and not depending on everything else. Thank you very much. That is very good. We are actually participating one way or the other. We need to do more. Thank you very much. I will turn now to Dr. Melissa Sassi, North America. Dr. Sassi, please.

Melissa Sassi:
I am a venture partner at machine lab venture. I am a venture partner at machine lab venture. I am a venture partner at machine lab venture. I am a venture partner at machine lab venture. My whole world revolves around, you know, enabling tech entrepreneurs to build their businesses, scale their businesses and potentially exit, depending on the scenario. I have spent a lot of time in, you know, kind of digital skill building. So I kind of take this intervention and look at it from the perspective of technology entrepreneurship and promoting a culture of digital innovation and financial well-being. And why do I take it from this perspective? You know, it is about making, you know, meaningful use of the technology in front of us and, you know, enabling skill building that drives outcomes. Meaningful and quick outcomes. So I am going to read some headlines. It is a bit doom and gloom, but also, you know, a bit inspiring as well. Accelerating the use of digital technologies is key to creating productive jobs and boosting economic growth in Africa. Middle East and North Africa addressing highest rate of unemployment in the world. Entrepreneurship is critical to Africa’s transformation. Why Africa’s youth hold the key to its development potential. Why Africa’s youth hold the key to its development potential. Why Africa’s youth hold the key to its development potential. Youth entrepreneurs will define the future. So on and so forth. All right? And people are the ultimate resource in economic development. Without people, what do we have? So what do I see as entrepreneurship culture or entrepreneurship culture as Google was recommended to Google to see if countries understand that entrepreneurs should make sustainable investments and investments. I see things like climate investments. Education I see it like my day dress brand. I see it like ważned production I see. He speaks to the portfolio. I treat content creators. Educators most all over the world. It’s not possible for new students to share their experiences, young people to share their experiences with their peers. Not even necessarily through formal education often in organic ways. It’s about culture, it’s about skills, about tools. It’s about making the results of your working experience able to be validated and ratified. This is only possible through train the trainer initiatives, clubs, learning and well doing and collaborating. And learning and the challenges. measuring impact and scaling it. A perfect way to do this is leveraging where youth already are. University settings, for example. Breathing the fire of entrepreneurship into every single classroom and campus. Which enables it to build the scale, or enables it to be built for scale. Something like this. A campaign where you choose in one university as a pilot, 100 students, 50 students, that spend time over a short period of time to learn a number of different tools, growth mindset, entrepreneurship skills. And then they go out and share it in each and every faculty with sponsors from each faculty and those administrators that support the university as a whole. Enabling them to grow and shine so that it’s not just about them going and learning, they’re practically creating things, using the tools in front of them every single month. And then they have a capstone project. Again, practical stuff. Not memorizing things, not theoretical things, real stuff. Measuring it and scaling it and rolling it out to each and every university. So when I think about growth mindset, these are kind of things I think about. It’s being able to tell stories, to bring our stuff to life, our origin stories. Having a passion for lifelong learning. Knowing how to fail and be perfect, not be perfect. Knowing how to motivate ourselves, be resilient and have perseverance, so on and so forth. Entrepreneurial thinking. Knowing how to manage our money, make money, knowing where taxation comes from. Knowing how to build partnerships, knowing how to pitch, how to understand our audience, how to know when you’ve got a product that people want and they’re willing to pay for it. Knowing how to solve problems and think critically. These are examples of tools for entrepreneurs. Notice I haven’t put, let’s all go out and learn to code. It’s real practical stuff. And I just put these examples and it’s not about saying, you know, let’s use examples that already exist. Let’s look at local tools that can either be developed or are already developed. Design thinking and agile. All right, I’d love to engage anyone if they’re interested.

Jimson Olufuye:
I’m easy to find, Dr. Melissa Sassi, thank you. Thank you very, very much, Dr. Melissa Sassi. Culture of innovation, scaling up capacity and skills, being practical, being engaging. Thank you so much for that perspective. In fact, as a matter of fact, in Nigeria, we have a new minister that’s come up with a strategy focused on developing the talent and capacity of about five million youths. So you are quite right on point. Thank you. All right, well I know exactly who I’m calling tomorrow then. Okay, sure. All right, I will now turn to Mr. Tsoyi Oloniteru, the private sector, to please come forward with his perspective. Thank you. Mr. Tsoyi, are you there? Okay, maybe while we wait for Tsoyi to come up, I’ll move to Ms. Rachel Shitanda, Executive Officer, Computer Society of Kenya. Rachel, are you there? Yes, yes. Okay, please, go ahead. You have your three minutes. Oh, so thank you so much for the opportunity and thank you everyone for joining in. I think I have to introduce myself.

Rachael Shitanda :
My name is Rachel Shitanda. I’m a Senior Executive Member for Computer Society of Kenya. I’m also a Head of Product for Mentalists. I lead team of developers and techies when it comes to product development and strategic outlook towards products and startup. So my approach and my view towards this problem of today is more of us as Africa looking towards our own capacity as a continent and what we as ourselves can use, can leverage to solve our own problem when it comes to digital and inclusivity and also when it comes to economic development. So it’s a common fact for everyone who is here that African has really enjoyed and experienced a very increased connectivity and accessibility to internet and penetration of internet in the continent for the past two decades. And so Africa is one of the markets which is attracting a lot of startups. And one of the biggest thing that we have to focus as Africa is how are we making our own solutions? Are we leveraging also from that uptake to build our own economies? So the main focus here is the governments to really put a strategy around encouraging local talent and local homemade products to be developed. As from the previous speakers who have already spoken before me, they spoke about Mr. Bimbo has spoken about financing, infrastructure and reduction of cost of business, which primarily is focused around government policies in terms of business uptake. And so if we have, if we provide a very favorable environment to startups and also to individuals in our communities to start business, then we will leverage on this change and this uptake of Africa as a very new market in the world. We have also heard from Dr. Kosis about local network and how the government needs engagement in order to provide solutions and also better regulation policies. So I think as a representative of the government, we can agree that it is a mutual responsibility and it falls a lot more on the government because as a government, it has a mandate to provide. good policies, employment opportunities, stable local currencies, and safeguarding their population. So, I think it’s a point for us to get in the middle ground and focus on those issues that are really affecting us. Also, as it’s common knowledge and also what Dr. Melissa has spoken about, about high skill set and entrepreneurship mindset that should be developed within ourselves in order to leverage on this change and develop our continent, then we have to look at what is this high skills and entrepreneurship mindset. What are we providing as a continent in order to grow our entrepreneurial mindset? Are we providing finances? Are we growing our population in such a way that they focus on job creation? Are we encouraging capital venture capitalism within our own? Like, are we building capital investment within our own communities? Because it’s just sad that most of the startups that are brought up, even that are coming up in Africa, they are mostly funded by venture capitalism from the East and the West. And our own population of people that are able to either finance or invest in such companies are not even aware or are not informed about opportunities that are around tech and the tech ecosystem and how they can leverage their income and grow their portfolios by investing in small startups within ourselves. So, I think we should really go into it deep and encourage our own population to invest within Africa by providing solutions around ourselves. So, as I conclude, I just want to focus more on us building solutions within ourselves. As Africa and also as policy makers that are in this forum, what environment are we building or are we creating around building networks and also building companies and encouraging other companies to come? What are we also doing when it comes to employment and skills upgrading? What are we doing when it comes to regulation? What are we doing in our own capacity when it comes to consumption of products that have been developed in Africa? What are we doing as a private sector also to develop solutions that we need because we actually understand what we need from our own contents? What are we doing also as a continent to safeguard our own data? What are those things that we’re encouraging companies to invest and bring their data to Africa? Are we providing the enabling environment? And so, as a community and also as people stakeholders within this industry, we need to focus on this. So, thank you so much. Excellent. Rachel, very well put.

Jimson Olufuye:
We appreciate that intervention. I will turn now to Toi. Mr. Toi Oloruniteru, you are back online now. Okay, please go ahead for your three minutes. Thank you.

Olutoyin Justus Oloniteru:
Okay. Thank you, everybody. Just to be very quick, my contribution is that we need to do an unbiased self-appraisal of Africa and how we are doing because we seem to be over-focused on the negative side and not able to appraise the positive side in terms of the progress that we have made so that we can see how we can quickly advance on that because a lot is happening in the continent. For example, like this Africa ICT Alliance that we have now, it wasn’t there 30 years ago. So, today that shows that there’s a progress that we’re making and I know a lot of things that we’re doing with this Africa ICT Alliance to change the dynamic of things. So, we have to look at a lot of business expansions that is taking place in Africa, just like MTN came to Nigeria, Eko Network came to Nigeria. I know a lot of Nigerian companies that are also going to other African countries, Kenya. Just like our banking system, we have technology expanding to other African countries. So, in the same way, we have a whole lot of… of things that are happening. For example, we have the DNS Africa now. We are right now, I imagine, as a fellow of the encryption associate council, mentoring a lot of other young Africans from Kenya, from Tanzania, from elsewhere in Africa. So a lot of things happening, and we need to also recognize these things so that we can now see how those things can help in the transformation of the digital value chain for Africa in the immediate to long term. For example, if I have met a lot of people now to expand my businesses to other parts of Africa, this is my mentees, they’ve really become part of the value chain process. And right now, in our companies in Nigeria, I’m recruiting some of those people from other countries in Africa to work in Nigeria remotely. Vulnerability assessment, financial testing, creating jobs for them, making sure that they’re part of the value systems, making sure that we are doing things so we need to point these things out. And what am I trying to say? We need to have behavior modification in terms of change of attitude. And my recommendation is that we need to lay a lot of emphasis on crowdfunding and crowdsourcing. We look at Africa as a whole, we can crowdfund Africa. If you have 1 billion people, let us say we develop something. I would say people should subscribe to it at, say, $10 or $100, and you have 1 million people in the whole of Africa, let’s say for technology development. How much would that be? If that funding is put there by Africans, then we can determine the utilization. Maybe young people, new investments, new startups, that Africans will give this thing to Africans, rather than the funding coming from the East and the West. Because if the business model and the design of the funding is from Western countries or from Eastern countries, I can bet you that they cannot do that without looking at how they are going to make return on investment. So we are undermining ourselves because we think that we are poor. We are looking at ourselves from a poverty point of view, which is wrong, because there is a lot of capacity in terms of informing capacity. It will not be government and government and government only. The government will also borrow from the West and be paying back. We can fund ourselves through crowdfunding, and we’ve got to deliver the service also through crowdsourcing. If I want to have the solutions in Nigeria, why can’t I get somebody from South Africa, somebody from the East? And it has happened before. Because look at all of us using Moodle and e-learning software now, whereas QNES Gen has one of the first e-learning software which I’m part of, that NCS. put four universities in Nigeria to learn about telecommunications development for Africa, when the Telecommunications Regulations Force was developed by the University of South Africa, and a copy of it was given to the University of Jordan to use. So now, instead of using QNHJ, why do we now decide to go and use Google for those ones that were developed by Western countries, popularize it, and kill yours? So to me, we need a change of attitude, we need the right attitude, we need to look at the little little progress that we have been making, rely on crowd-funding and crowd-sourcing African solutions to African problems, including manufacturing of hardware, which is also happening in Nigeria. I know one of our directors in NIDA, Dr. Agu, is doing a lot of mechatronics at a village in Abuja, Fujie. We can go there, so instead of patronizing, for the government to go and patronize products from outside Africa, and then we keep on complaining and complaining. If it’s going to create jobs, creating jobs in Nubia, not even in the city center, in the remote area. So this would be my immediate contribution for now, that crowd-funding and crowd-sourcing and the right attitude to look at the positive side of what we can do. Thank you.

Jimson Olufuye:
Very well made, very well made. We need to look inwards. Excellent, thank you very much, Chief Tui Oloniteru. Let me now turn on to Dr. Ben Ewa, NIDA. I can say that NIDA is also one of the outcomes of WSIS, one way or the other. Dr. Ben Ewa. Thank you very much.

Bernard Ewah:
One of the benefits of speaking last is that you get to summarize all the ideas that have been made by previous speakers. I must say that I quite agree with every view that has been expressed here. By way of introduction, yes, I work for the National Information Technology Agency, where we intervene through regulations. As I said during the session on data governance and trust yesterday, we are beginning to see regulatory interventions that are more market-facing, less risk-adverse, designed to trigger new markets. The issues that have been talked about here have to do with infrastructure or the quality of infrastructures. In the last decades, entrepreneurs from Nigeria, for instance, have ventured into assembly of computer devices. They have made enormous gains, but we also see how they have struggled in the market. So, we are also responding with and trying to bring out regulations that enhance the quality of device components and also improve the customer experience. But I will talk also about some of the things I do in addition to regulations, and that also resonates with some of the contributions from others, in particular the tech entrepreneurship and so on. If you take a very close look at the existing African market, we need to be interested in the structure of the labor market, where a large proportion of the economy is in the informal sector. If we are serious about tech adoption, we must be also interested in understanding where our needs are, what the structure is now, and how technology can impact on the existing structure. For instance, we consume a lot of goods that are unstructured, low quality, but which a huge percentage of our population rely on on a daily basis. So about two years ago, I started working on that, and currently we’ve successfully created a digital platform where virtually every service, including hair braiding and other services, can be structured. One of the interesting takeaways from that is that these traditional services can be digitized. We are seeing a connection where a carpentry worker can use digital platforms to enhance markets and so on. So my point is that we need to look at where the majority of our population needs interventions. That will be the low-hanging fruit for African markets and so on. Thank you very much. Very good.

Jimson Olufuye:
Thank you very much, Dr. Bain. I would love to hear what NIDA is doing to empower those people as well. It’s a good point you made, but we’ll come back to that. I will now yield to my colleague online, Mr. Yekema Bunta. Please pick it up.

Inye Kembonta:
Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Excellent session so far. I listened attentively to all the speakers, and I was excited about the numerous suggestions that were coming forth. Ben, who speaks for government at this workshop, and has spoken last, I won’t let you go off so quickly. I won’t let you speak last again, so you’ll speak first. I have reversed the order and have you intervene right away. I’m going to be talking to you about raw materials, but I defined it broadly. I define raw materials to include human resources actually. I also define raw materials to include existing African solutions that are there, but not harnessed for the benefit of Africa. So since, and by the way, before I ask my question directly to Ben, Dr. Belewa, it would be nice for government, as you represent, to be part of AFICTA, even if at not a membership level, but at affiliate level of some kind. So the interaction can be more robust. We’ll not be talking to ourselves. We’ll have government engaging with us directly. So I’m appealing that you make this constant, since you represent a very powerful and important agency in Nigeria, the NIDDA, the Technology Development Agency, but that’s an aside. So let’s get to the question. We’re home to resources, really. Africa is home to so much resources, human and natural. What went wrong that we are not able to convert those resources to a normal part of the value chain globally? Take, for instance, let’s look at government. Has government of Nigeria, which you speak about, taking steps in what direction to ensure that those resources are used even for the benefit of the nation, as an example? So you go first, Dr. Belewa. Thank you very much. Yes, one minute.

Bernard Ewah:
On the first part of the question about membership of Africa, I’m already here, and I’m going to take this back to my boss. ensure that it continues to participate and contribute effectively in this process. On the second part about conversion or utilization of natural resources, this is interesting because every age defines the value of natural resources. We can talk about what the coal industry still meant a couple of decades ago to some economies, including advanced economies, and what it is today. But today we are also looking at new resources like data and so on. So I think the key thing for government is to recognize the transition in the resource utilization and how they can be effectively employed to achieve national development.

Jimson Olufuye:
Thank you. Yes, Mr. Iye, just to bring it to your attention, we also have another powerful government agency representative in the house, NCC. So Dr. Chidi is here, sitting with us. So please, I’m sure you want to also… Dr. Chidi from NCC? Yes, exactly. The Nigerian Communications Commission?

Inye Kembonta:
Exactly. Yes. Oh, why don’t we have his intervention for a minute at once, since government is speaking. The telecom sector is what he represents, and most of that… is probably in foreign hands, as it were. So let’s hear his own intervention. You have a minute, sir. We’re talking about resources. Africa is home to natural resources for production. And I defined resources to include human resources. I defined it to be broad. Natural resources include human resources, and also solutions that already exist. How has that fared in the telecom sector? Are we contributing to the global value chain, as it were? Thank you.

Jimson Olufuye:
All right.

Chidi Diugwu:
Thank you very much, the moderator. Your question is very relevant. Human capacity development is very critical as a raw material for the subject matter. As you may have gathered by now, NCC is a major, in fact, the only sponsor of the Digital Bridge Institute in Nigeria. So Digital Bridge Institute is designed to upscale Nigerians when it comes to digital literacy. There are so many programs going on there, like the Advanced Digital Appreciation course, and there are programs that are designed to upscale public servants. Well, that is on a very high level. The NCC is very much keen to develop research and development, and that is why we have a full department dedicated for research and development.

Jimson Olufuye:
So we endow professorate chair on Nigerian universities selected every year.

Chidi Diugwu:
Apart from that, I would like to thank the African Secretariat and of course the technical team,

Jimson Olufuye:
a wonderful technical team. Can you put your hands together for this great technical team? Big thanks to the government and the people of Japan for their overwhelming hospitality. Thank you all very much. Have a good day and goodbye. Thank you very much. I think we had a very wonderful session. The time was a bit of a limitation. You can go through the chat and see some of the comments that we have there and questions. I hope we’ll be able to do justice to that, maybe if we have another version of this discussion next year. It’s something we really need to further discuss going forward. Thank you everyone. Thank you so much. Thank you too and goodbye. I don’t know if you are listening to me, but I can hear you. Thank you, Namaste. Namaste. Namaste. Namaste.