Get Guardian on GoogleAcademics and technology experts have called for deliberate investment in indigenous Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions, digital infrastructure and local research capacity as critical foundations for Africa’s sustainable economic growth.
The call was made at the opening of the sixth International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (ICAIR) 2026, held at the Jelili Omotola Multipurpose Hall, University of Lagos (UNILAG).
The three-day conference, themed: ‘Artificial Intelligence for Africa’s sustainable economic growth,’ convened academics, researchers, technology professionals, industry leaders, policymakers and students to examine how AI and robotics can accelerate innovation, deepen accountability and address Africa’s most pressing developmental challenges.
Experts at the conference urged African governments, universities and industry leaders to prioritise indigenous technology development, strengthen digital infrastructure and invest in skilled talent as a pathway to building resilient and competitive economies.
In his welcome address, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee and Principal Researcher at the Nigeria AI Research Lab (NAIRL), UNILAG, Dr Sennaike Oladipupo, described Artificial Intelligence as one of the defining developments of the current era, with far-reaching implications for how people work, solve problems and interact with technology.
He noted that sectors such as agriculture, healthcare and education stand to benefit significantly from AI applications, with potential to address longstanding structural challenges, improve service delivery and stimulate inclusive economic growth across the continent.
Oladipupo, however, cautioned against Africa’s continued dependence on technologies developed outside the continent, stressing the need to build home-grown solutions that reflect local realities, cultural contexts, priorities and values.
He said ICAIR 2026 was conceived not merely as an academic gathering but as a platform for meaningful engagement, knowledge exchange and partnership building capable of translating research findings into practical, deployable solutions for African communities.
In her goodwill message, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, highlighted the widening technological gap between Africa and more advanced economies, particularly in the development and availability of critical computing infrastructure.
Ogunsola, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research), Prof. Matthew Ilori, pointed to the limited access to, and local production of central processing units and graphics processing units as a major constraint to advanced research and innovation on the continent.
She called on African governments to recognise the urgency of the digital divide and to commit greater resources towards building local technological capacity.
Ogunsola also urged universities and research institutions to take a more active role in empowering young people to develop innovative solutions and contribute meaningfully to the continent’s digital transformation.
She reaffirmed the university’s commitment to equipping students with the knowledge, technical competence and adaptive skills required to thrive in a rapidly evolving technology-driven world.
Delivering the keynote address titled: ‘From AI research to real-world impact: Building Africa’s capacity for data-driven innovation and economic growth’, Director of Data Science and Computational Thinking and Professor of Operations Research and Analytics at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, Prof Kanshukan Rajaratnam, examined both the opportunities and structural challenges confronting Africa in the adoption and development of Artificial Intelligence.
Rajaratnam noted that while Africa possesses a youthful population, expanding digital adoption and significant market opportunities, the continent’s ability to harness AI remains constrained by inadequate infrastructure, limited investment in research and development, and the persistent migration of highly skilled technical professionals to other regions.
He argued that meaningful AI adoption must go beyond importing foreign technologies or implementing isolated pilot projects.
For Africa to derive sustainable value, countries must invest in high-quality local datasets, develop systems that understand African languages, accents, and contexts, and create solutions that respond directly to their communities’ needs.
He also underscored the importance of sustained collaboration among governments, universities and industry in building viable innovation ecosystems, retaining technical talent and ensuring that academic research translates into measurable economic and social impact.
On the question of AI safety, accountability and governance, Rajaratnam emphasised that technological advancement must remain centred on human needs and societal objectives.
He called for robust benchmarking, comprehensive evaluation and practical real-world testing of AI systems, noting that strong performance in standardised assessments or laboratory conditions does not necessarily guarantee effectiveness in complex, real-life situations.
