A Letter to Africa: The AI Age is Here and Africa is Nowhere to be Found.
Dearest Africa,
I write to you, my cherished
homeland, with a heart full of love and optimism. I am a child of your vast
lands; a young scholar immersed in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
for research, and I see its beautiful potential every day. My deepest desire is
to witness your rise to greatness, illuminating the world as a beacon of
development and innovation. As the rest of the world advances in AI and
technology, you are nowhere to be found. I cannot bear to see you, my beloved
Africa left behind. This is a moment you cannot miss or be found wanting,
Africa. You must rise to the occasion. Throughout history, you have missed some
golden opportunities to be on par with the rest of the world.
In the Agricultural
Era, you, dear Africa, were a land of endless abundance. Your soil, so rich
and fertile, could have fed the world. Your west was filled with cocoa fields,
palm oil plantations, and vast maize and millet farms, all of which spoke of
high potential and promise. With your nurturing embrace and fertile land, your
children and inhabitants should not be experiencing hunger and malnutrition. It
is ironic that as generous as you are, most of your offspring still go without.
Your many rivers and rich lands are enough to nourish countless souls, but
these resources have not been fully harnessed. This reality, dear Africa, is a
wound that must heal.
When the earth’s treasures reigned
supreme in the Mining
Era, you, dear Africa, even then and now were the wealthiest lands beneath
the heavens. Your soil cradled the richest veins of minerals, from the gleaming
gold on your rivers to the shimmering diamonds hidden within your hills. DR
Congo is a crown of your abundance and is proclaimed the richest land on Earth,
yet your children in that place wander in the shadows of abject poverty, their
lives torn by unending conflict and strife. The irony is as sharp as the
brilliance of your gems—your precious metals, from the cobalt that powers our
smartphones to the lithium that drives electric cars and the gold that adorns
the altars of wealth, fuel modern technology engines. Yet, you and your
offspring, Africa, remain mere spectators in the grand scheme of things and harvest
of your blessings. The wealth that should be elevating your people to
unimaginable heights has instead been squandered, leaving a legacy of lost
opportunities, corruption, and untold suffering.
In the Industrial
Era, where you should have donned the robes of transformation. Colonial
chains bound you, holding back your brilliance. Even as those chains were
broken, you struggled to find your footing in the industrial world. The dreams
of factories humming with innovation in Lagos, the hopes of mechanized farms in
Kano, the visions of bustling ports in Port Harcourt—all remained unfulfilled.
Instability, corruption, and a lack of visionary policies have stunted your
growth. Africa should be blossoming into a powerhouse of production and
progress, but this hasn't been the case. This chapter, while painful, does not
define your future, you can do better.
Today, as we stand in the Technological
Era, there are glimmers of hope and brilliance across the land. Young
entrepreneurs are rising, creating billion-dollar companies, and bringing light
to your name. Tech hubs are sprouting up across the land showcasing the
ingenuity and resilience of your people. Yet, these are just sparks, and you
need a roaring flame. The digital divide, limited access to high-speed
internet, and insufficient technological education are barriers you must tear
down. You cannot afford to lag while the rest of the world sprints ahead.
And now, my dear Africa, as the AI
Era and Age comes with technologies possibilities, and capabilities not yet
known to man—a new dawn that promises to transform the world in ways
unimaginable. AI
has the power to revolutionize your economies, healthcare, and education, and
assist in solving existing challenges. Imagine, dear Africa, AI technologies
helping to optimize your vast agricultural lands, predicting and helping you to
manage health crises, and tailoring education to children's needs. The
potential is boundless, but you must act swiftly and decisively. You must
invest in AI applications and use them, you can position yourself to be a
utilizer of AI technology, integrate it into your educational systems, and
create environments that encourage innovation and growth.
Africa, the responsibility to shape
your destiny lies within you and your offspring. They can no longer blame
external forces for their struggles. It is time for you to take charge, harness
the wealth of your resources and talent, and foster a culture of innovation.
You can thrive, prosper, and shine brightly on the global stage.
To the sons and daughters and
friends of Africa, especially those in the diaspora, you are called to act.
Your knowledge, your skills, and your passion are the keys to Africa's
collective future. Come join hands and hearts and build the Africa of your
dreams. You are the bridge between the past and the bright future envisioned.
Africa, you must light the torch of a new renaissance, one that will illuminate
not just you, continental Africa but the entire world.
Africa, you are an endowment of unparalleled beauty and strength. You have the talent, the resources, and the potential to be a leader on the world stage. Awaken to your greatness. Seize this moment, embrace the coming eras, and craft a future worthy of your name.
With all my love and hope,
Special thanks to my supervisors Dr. Krzysztof and Dr. Sampath for encouraging me to express myself through writing and to see my roots and experiences as a source of strength.
Lawrence Obiuwevwi is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Computer Science, a graduate research assistant with the Center for Mission Engineering, and a proud student member of The Storymodelers, and The Web Science and Digital Libraries (WS-DL) Research Group, at Old Dominion University.
Best Regards,
Lawrence Obiuwevwi
Graduate Research Assistant
Center for Mission Engineering
Department of Computer
Science
Old Dominion University, Norfolk,
VA 23529
https://www.storymodelers.org/
-Everything can be improved upon.