By Olakunle Agboola – A world-class exhibition for the Business of Education Community will hold on 25th, 26th & 27th September 2018 at OGTV Events Hall, Abeokuta.
Technology is growing at a very fast pace across the globe with the Americans at the forefront, Europe and Asia right within the circle and Africa comparatively lagging behind and a lot dependent on the acquisition of already invented technology from the aforementioned regions. However, Africa is not willing to remain stagnant forever. Some of the continent’s countries are at the forefront of technological advancement. Answers Africa studied 54 African countries and matched them up using several ranking factors including: Intensity of R&D (research and development), productivity and variability of technological products, high-tech density such as proportion of high-tech public companies in the field of advanced engineering, energy, defence, chemical, hardware and software, Internet, computer and mobile phone software & services. Also, researchers concentration compared to the rest of the population, the manufacturing capability of each country, education levels and of course raw talent were also considered.
South Africa was at the top of the list. It emerged as the most technologically advanced countries in Africa. South Africa is a country that cannot be easily compared with most other countries across Africa, it also tops African countries in the current Global Innovation Index (GII), ranking number 53 out of 143 countries compared globally. The country supports her human potentials that is why developments springing up from IT fields emanated from South Africa. With South African Universities constituting most of the best universities in Africa, the country is bound to keep producing some of the most amazing inventions that are globally recognized. The lists of discoveries that are worth mentioning are quite enormous. Linux Ubuntu developed by Mark Shuttle worth, Multichoice (DSTV) is a South African company with a global influence, PayPal was co-founded by a South African, CAT scan, SASOL technology that converts coal into oil just to mention a few.
It was said that civilization started in Egypt. Egypt has for long been associated with inventions and innovations. From the Egyptian Pyramid to the use of the calendar and written language. The North African Country has not relented in spearheading science and technology in Africa. Egypt has some of the best universities in Africa that support the development of technology. Egypt has gone this far because the government embraces technology with an attitude spread across all Industries. Despite the civil unrest the country experienced, Egypt is still a technological force to reckon with and is one of the most technologically advanced countries in Africa.
The most populous African country has not been left out in technology and innovative developments across Africa. Coming in the third slot, Nigeria is a technology giant with lots of potentials in the industry. It is home to the likes of Iroko Partners, a successful internet company with over 6 million unique users from 178 different countries, made in Nigeria INYE-1 and INYE-2 tablet computers, Seyi Oyesola’s “hospital in a box” invention etc. In recent times, the country saw the famous demonstration of a urine-powered generator developed by school teenagers; a Moringa plant technology that would enable Nigerians to use Moringa plant for water treatment, a move toward increasing the accessibility to potable water in the country. There are also a lot of achievements in mobile and web apps development in the country. Though the internet penetration is still low and stands at roughly 38%, Nigeria is a country with a lot of potentials producing the most talented people when given the opportunity. The country, therefore, occupies the 3rd spot on the list of most technologically advanced countries in Africa.
South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria being the most technologically advanced countries in Africa are doing a lot but there must be a paradigm shift to be on the top list of technologically advanced countries in the world. This is the standing point of Sysdigit Communication, a reputable media outfit with the head office in Kent, United Kingdom and Lagos, Nigeria. They have studied the top 3 most technology-driven countries in Africa and the mission is to technologically transform the whole of Africa through a sustainable educational system. Speaking with the CEO of Sysdigit Communication, Mr Sina Oduko, he said the time has come for Africa to depend less on foreign technology and forcefully take our place by earnesting our creative endowment to create the technology that we need which is achievable through a solidify educational system from primary to the tertiary institution. He is not happy the way Asian technology is dominating Africa, making Africa to be less innovative and productive. The total dependence on foreign technology is killing Africa and we need to wake up Olakunle.
Mr Oduko also talked about the Abduction of 276 Chibok girls whom he described as a failure of the whole continents if we have not developed a technology to locate their whereabouts and end Boko Haram insurgent. Africa is still in dire need of new idea and new methods to conceptualize innovative ways to deal with issues of national intelligence, agriculture and food preservation, and medical treatments amongst other challenges. Innovation brings new knowledge that leads to the development of improved processes and products. Engineering skills and science knowledge are key primary support of business innovation.
Looking keenly into his eyes, Mr Oduko has so much passion with vigour in his speech as he dived into the world of Nanotechnology, biotechnology, and electronic research. Why is Africa still lagging behind in these new fields of science, vital to nations security and economic clouts? There is no correlation between the research institutes and the Universities. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines produce knowledge capital that fuels innovation and economic potential. We just have to wake up Olakunle, Said Mr Oduko.
The exhibition with the theme ‘TRANSFORMING EDUCATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS’ will bring together education technology leading companies, top schools across Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world. The global education community will come together to celebrate, find inspiration and discuss the future of education, as well as the role technology and innovation, plays in enabling all educators and learners to thrive. It will also be a good opportunity for networking and to keep abreast of the latest trends within the education sector. The three days exhibition will take place at OGTV Event Hall on September 25th, 26th, and 27th respectively.
Mr Sina Oduko called on Government, Ministry of Education, NGOs, Education Exhibitors across Nigeria and the rest of Africa to take advantage of this platform for collaboration as OGTV Abeokuta, and a lot of media outfits in Nigeria and United Kingdom are not left out in support of this wits. EDUTEC-EXPO 2018 will also be a huge opportunity for product exhibitions and a live demonstration of products & services to highly selected key stakeholders. Mr Oduko in his concluding statement said, there will be numerous opportunities to franchise and seal business deals with world leaders in the educational sector, which is, must for those in the business of education to seize this opportunity as Over 5,000 visitors have registered for this Exhibition.
For more information, call/text
+2347062607080,
+447931662796
Www.edutec-expo.com
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