The Future Started Yesterday: The Urgent Need for Innovation in Africa - by Wilson Babangida Agboti

 

The Future Started Yesterday: The Urgent Need for Innovation in Africa

By Wilson Babangida Agboti,mwcp

While speaking with one of my bosses on the phone this morning, I shared a thought I had learned from a former mentor: “The future started yesterday, and as of today, we are already late.” The weight of that statement lingered in the air, and my young son of less than 2 years, who was playing beside me, echoed an instinctive “Oh ohhh,” as if grasping the urgency of the words. His reaction was a stark reminder that we live in an era where time waits for no one, and the failure to innovate means being left behind.

Africa’s Innovation Gap: A Reality Check

In the fast-paced world of technological advancement, Africa faces a significant challenge—playing catch-up. The digital revolution is transforming economies at an unprecedented speed, yet many African nations remain on the sidelines, struggling with outdated systems, limited technological infrastructure, and inadequate investment in research and development.

The implications are profound. In an age where artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, biotechnology, and renewable energy are shaping industries, Africa’s continued reliance on traditional economic models could result in deeper marginalization on the global stage. If we do not act swiftly, the gap between developed economies and Africa will widen, further entrenching economic dependence rather than fostering sustainable growth.

The Need for Innovation and Nurturing of Creative Minds

The foundation of every great economy is innovation—the ability to create, transform, and adapt. Africa is not lacking in brilliant minds or creative potential. Across the continent, young innovators are breaking barriers in science, technology, and entrepreneurship. Yet, their growth is often stifled by limited resources, weak policies, and a lack of institutional support.

For Africa to compete globally, there must be a deliberate effort to nurture innovation at every level—education, governance, business, and community development. This requires:

  1. Investment in STEM Education
    Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education should be prioritized in schools. Young minds should be equipped with problem-solving skills, coding knowledge, and a creative mindset to develop solutions relevant to Africa’s unique challenges.
  2. Tech Hubs and Innovation Centers
    More innovation hubs and incubators should be established across Africa to support young entrepreneurs. Countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa have demonstrated that tech hubs can serve as breeding grounds for startups that transform economies.
  3. Government Support and Policy Reform
    African governments must create enabling environments for innovation through policies that support research and development, tax incentives for tech startups, and simplified business registration processes for innovators.
  4. Public-Private Partnerships
    Collaboration between governments, private sector players, and international organizations can bridge funding gaps and create platforms for African innovations to reach global markets.
  5. Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge
    Africa has a rich heritage of knowledge in medicine, agriculture, and architecture. Combining this wisdom with modern technology can lead to unique innovations tailored to our continent’s needs.

Embracing the Future with Urgency

The world is not waiting for Africa to catch up. If we continue at our current pace, the innovations that define the next industrial revolution will emerge elsewhere, leaving Africa as a mere consumer rather than a contributor. The time to act is now—not tomorrow, not next year, but today.

We must inspire a culture where ideas are transformed into action, where African youths see themselves as creators rather than dependents, and where governments, institutions, and businesses invest in the future with boldness and urgency.

Because, as we now know, the future started yesterday, and we are already late.

Date: 18th February 2025

Publication: Online


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