Selorm Adadevoh, the Group Chief Commercial Officer of MTN, stressed the pivotal role of youth empowerment in driving technological transformation across Africa. Speaking at the 2024 African Prosperity Dialogue in Accra, Ghana, Adadevoh emphasized the need for education as a catalyst for empowering the youth to propel the continent into the forefront of technology.
Addressing the audience during a panel discussion on “Critical Enablers for Single Market Success – Leveraging Infrastructure, Innovation, and Technology,” Adadevoh pointed out Africa’s technological lag, with approximately 50% of the population lacking access to internet services.
Citing the World Bank, he highlighted the staggering $1.7 trillion investment required in infrastructure over the next 10 to 15 years to catch up with the rest of the world.
Adadevoh underscored the importance of a mindset transformation, stating, “Transformation begins with the mindset. One area we need to tackle to solve this issue is education.
It is not enough to invest in infrastructure without investing in the skills needed.” With Africa boasting the largest youth population globally, he emphasized the necessity of transforming the educational system into a more digital framework.
The MTN executive also discussed the significance of creating markets within Africa to drive technological progress.
“Until we start to create markets within our markets, this will not be economically viable. There must be a collective effort to break barriers and allow ease of transaction for collaborative solutions to build the Africa we all wish to see,” Adadevoh added.
The African Prosperity Dialogues, a three-day event themed “Delivering Prosperity in Africa: Produce. Add Value. Trade,” serves as a platform for government and business leaders across Africa to propose concrete measures and exchange ideas on key issues, contributing to Africa’s growth and progress.
Source: Ghanaweb
