BudgIT, EiE underscore technology in African politics

Civil society organisations, BudgIT and Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, are set to host an event on November 28 in Lagos to address the growing influence of new media technologies on political actions across Africa.

The event, themed, “Technology: The Present and Future of Political Action in Africa,” will explore innovative ways to leverage technology to enhance citizen engagement, promote democratic governance and improve government accountability on the continent.

According to the organisers of the event “which is also tagged Technology, New Media, Citizens and Governance Conference, it will feature discussions on the transformative role of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) in reshaping African politics.

It is expected to be attended by policymakers, civil society actors, academics and industry professionals from across Africa and will focus on fostering collaboration to apply new media technologies effectively in political activism and governance.

At a press conference, Country Director of BudgIT, Gabriel Okeowo, emphasised the need to address the significant impact that technology was having on political participation in Africa, especially in light of recent developments in elections and governance.

“At BudgIT, we’ve observed that some government agencies are increasingly open to using technology to enhance public service delivery. While there’s still progress to be made, with support from civil society, these efforts can become more impactful and effective,” he said.

He noted that this year’s conference will bring together experts from diverse regions of Africa to discuss how technology is fostering a participatory democracy.

Among the speakers lined up for the event are Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who will deliver the keynote address; Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani; and representatives from South Africa, Liberia, and Ethiopia, among others.

EiE Nigeria’s Executive Director, Opeyemi Adamolekun, noted that the conference would address critical issues at the intersection of technology and governance.