International digital transformation advisor and technology advocate, Akanni Isaac, has urged Africa’s technology ecosystem to prioritise the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital solutions that address critical social challenges, stressing that the true value of innovation lies in its impact on people’s lives.

Isaac made the call while speaking with journalists at the conclusion of the Social Impact Tech Summit (SITSummit) 2026 held at NECA House, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

According to him, Africa’s rapidly expanding technology sector presents a significant opportunity to tackle longstanding challenges in education, healthcare, food security and climate resilience through purposeful innovation.

“We are building many technologies, but very few are solving our biggest problems,” Isaac said. “Technology should improve lives, reduce inequality and create opportunities for everyone.”

His remarks come amid growing investments by governments, investors and technology companies across Africa in artificial intelligence, digital transformation and innovation aimed at driving economic growth and improving public service delivery.

Isaac called for stronger collaboration among entrepreneurs, developers, policymakers and investors to ensure that technological innovations are designed to meet real societal needs rather than focusing exclusively on commercial returns.

He described social impact innovation as one of the continent’s most promising opportunities, noting that an increasing number of startups are demonstrating that commercial success and measurable public benefit can coexist.

Addressing young professionals, Isaac encouraged them to broaden their perspectives and draw lessons from global experiences that can be adapted to local realities.

“Don’t allow your career to be limited by where you grew up,” he said. “Many of the problems we face today have already been solved elsewhere through technology and innovation. We must learn from those experiences, adapt them to our realities and continue building solutions that make life better.”

On education, Isaac argued that technology must be deployed to address structural barriers that limit access to quality learning, particularly for underserved communities.

“Education is not a luxury,” he said. “Every child deserves access to education just as they deserve food, healthcare and the opportunity to build a better future.”

He further challenged innovators to explore AI-powered learning solutions capable of reaching children who are unable to attend conventional classrooms because of economic circumstances.

“If we can build AI solutions for people who are deaf or blind, we should also be asking how technology can deliver quality learning to children helping their parents in shops or informal businesses,” he said. “Technology should meet people where they are and remove barriers to opportunity.”

Isaac maintained that innovation should ultimately be assessed by its contribution to society rather than its technical sophistication.

“The true measure of innovation is not how advanced technology is, but how many people it empowers,” he said.

The summit, organised by Coappt in collaboration with G.O. Lawal Global, brought together technology leaders, policymakers, investors, academics and development partners to explore how emerging technologies can advance sustainable development across Africa.

Among the featured speakers was Douglas Grindle, Political and Economic Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, who reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting technology, innovation and responsible digital development in partnership with Nigeria.

Participants at the event also emphasised the need for stronger public-private sector collaboration to ensure that artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies contribute to inclusive economic growth and sustainable social development across the continent.