Africa Participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Gilbert Mbeh
Nov 6 · 5 min read

-From a founder’s perspective-

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The world now sits on the cusp of the fourth industrial revolution, marking the fusion of multiple technologies such as AI, robotics, nanotechnology, genetics, biotech and 3D printing. Rapid population growth compels governments to respond to citizens who clamor for change. Listening to the rhythm of the many communities by harnessing AI will inform timely decisions.

The old rules by which nations played the political and economic games are vanishing. All the tools required to become a highly industrialized country have already been invented. Access to skills in developing these tools is becoming cheaper by the day as mobile devices transform access to education.

Throughout the ages, few risks have been more consequential than arriving late to the digital realm. Technology is rendering skills that were once highly valued obsolete. In this climate, everything changes. Past industrial revolutions bypassed Africa. Today, we are equipped to disrupt the status quo on a burgeoning continent.

Promising startups are already creating employment and significantly impacting their communities. The current entrepreneurial trend ushers in ground breaking products and services. It demolishes institutional roadblocks to services at every level; solutions are surfacing for almost every problem. The result? A fast growing service sector which in 20 years or less will shrink widespread dependence on subsistence agriculture.

With the known hurdles in accessing funding, entrepreneurs in Africa are already addressing some of the biggest impediments to socioeconomic development. Thanks to the rapid proliferation of mobile communications, people can instantly access vital services anytime, anywhere.

Contrast this scenario with the first industrial revolution that began in the late 18th century, long before most African countries embraced new manufacturing processes. That celebrated transition from hand production methods to machines improved efficiency, largely with the aid of water power.

The Second Industrial Revolution started in the 19th century in Europe and North America. It launched a steel industry and giant corporations that would engage in mass production. Cottage industries fell victim to well-capitalized companies that invested in research and development. Armed with new inventions, they grew even larger.

Innovations produced great social impact that spurred even more progress. Resulting wealth helped lift the living conditions of an increasingly large percentage of the population as the 20th century began.

African communities experienced severe diplomatic pressures, military invasions, and eventual conquest and colonization. As World War I ended, United States President Woodrow Wilson declared support for self determination and an end to colonial rule. But it took three more decades before the United Nations General Assembly — formed in the aftermath of World War II — empowered independence movements. On December 12, 1948 the United Nations recognized the republic of Korea as the sole legal government of Korea.

Within two decades, an independent South Korea began establishing a protectionist economic policy. A policy of industrialization by import substitution was applied. It curtailed entry into the country of all kinds of foreign products, except raw materials. In less than three decades, concentrated state support featuring tax breaks, cheap or free financing spawned diversified multinational conglomerates such as Hyundai, Samsung and LG Corporate. Their steep rise vaulted South Korea to global industrial leadership.

When the third industrial revolution became visible after 1969, powered by breakthroughs in electronics and information technology, much of the developed world saw unprecedented innovation across every commercial sector. A majority of African countries with just a few years of independence were struggling with new forms of governance. Cameroon, which won independence in 1960, was sailing into a blurry but promising future.

In Europe and North America, the Industrial Revolutions had already changed the way people worked and acquired goods, the number of goods in circulation, and economic relationship between industrialized and non-industrialized regions of the world. From the 18th century through the 19th century right up to the 21th century, Africa had been a reliable supplier of both raw materials and human capital to the industrialized world even in times of war as in times of peace.

While entrepreneurs would have a pivotal role to play in the transformation of Africa, no African government can afford to stay neutral. They must include technology in their priority spending through support to the private sector, improved government infrastructures, subsidies for tech startups and an enabling environment for local and foreign investments.

Three industrial revolutions have reshaped the world. The next one favors Africa. Unlike more advanced economies, we are not mired in legacy systems and practices. By leveraging new technologies that automate tasks and skills, Africa can lead a global digital revolution.

The claim that America took more than two centuries to become what it is today is not relevant. Historical underdevelopment now poses an advantage. Africa can assert tech leadership in 20 years or less. Disputing this claim ignores the astronomical potential of the AI revolution, 3D printing, robotics, the blockchain technology and the ongoing development of new technologies already driving changes and transforming lives across the continent. A nimble, technologically backed service sector will spur structural transformation in the occupational structure of every national economy.

Africa by 2040 will attain a significant level of self sustained industrialization and transformations in the agricultural and services sectors capable of catering to a significantly growing population. Access to healthcare will be as easy as clicking our messaging app. Competitiveness will improve affordability and quality, as people will prioritize access over ownership.

Achieving a self sustained level of industrialization by 2040 is not longer a question of how possible, but rather how willing; with the few addressable challenges being; access to large investment capital whose limitation exposes entrepreneurs and startups to a number of market risks, policies differences in Africa also slows down startups from scaling to new territories.

Africa informed participation in the Fourth industrial revolution will help a greater part of the continent achieve a sustained economic growth and security that will bring high level of occupancy/employment which will lead to low birth rate and higher life expectancy. EdTech — shorthand for education technology — will make education less expensive and more accessible. The ability to export high value added goods and services will skyrocket. And as always, investors who are already identifying the endless opportunities in Africa will reap vast benefits on a new safe investment haven as Africa asserts leadership on the global map.

Gilbert Mbeh

Written by

Gilbert Mbeh is a Cameroonian technology entrepreneur, he is the founder and chief executive officer of AbegYa, an African information-rich digital marketplace.

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