AI and Coding: How African Leaders Can Ride on Artificial Intelligence Wave to Create Job Opportunities for Youth in Africa

AI is changing how we work, live, and do things. As the development of AI continues to expand across the world, an ecosystem of AI is also emerging across Africa.

According to Leila Janah, the founder and CEO of Samasource, “If you use a mobile phone or laptop’s facial recognition features, drive a car, or shop online, there’s a good chance that a person in East Africa helped train the algorithm that makes your technology work.”

This growing AI ecosystem in Africa presents a significant opportunity for the continent’s youth to be at the forefront of innovation and technological advancement.

With Africa’s youth population projected to become one of the world’s largest workforces by 2030, it is crucial to equip them with the skills to harness AI’s transformative power.

By leveraging AI, African youth can drive economic growth, improve lives, and address development challenges.

As AI advances at an unprecedented rate, exploring ways to position Africa’s youth to capitalise on this technology and shape the continent’s future is essential.

About 100 AI start-ups have emerged across Africa, raising over $140 million in seed funding, with the majority going into fintech in Nigeria. For example, Cellulant raised $47.5 million, followed by Mines.IO, which raised $17.2 million.

While Nigeria has attracted the most enormous amount of seed funding, South Africa has the highest number of AI start-ups (26) in Africa, followed by Nigeria (20) and Kenya (9).

Surprisingly, while Nigeria has attracted the most significant AI seed funding, Kenya, Tunisia, Mauritius, South Africa and Ghana rank higher (respectively) regarding government AI readiness in Africa.

It is also interesting to note that while the fintech sector has attracted the most considerable amount of seed funding, the healthcare sector has the highest number of AI start-ups (21), followed by agriculture (14) and manufacturing (5) sectors.

To avoid a repeat of the missed opportunities from the previous industrial revolutions that have left a negative legacy for African countries, African governments must create an enabling environment for these AI startups to flourish and accelerate the socio-economic development of Africa.

Now, we need strong political will and government leadership to complement and sustain the gains made so far.

The State of African Youth Employment

Africa is home to over 1.4 billion people, with more than 60 per cent of its population below the age of 25. However, this demographic dividend is faced with significant challenges, including high levels of unemployment and underemployment.

According to the African Development Bank, approximately 12 million young Africans enter the job market yearly, but only 3 million formal jobs are available. This disparity underscores the need for innovative solutions to address the employment gap.

Embracing AI and Software Engineering in Africa

AI and software engineering are already making waves in Africa, with various initiatives and success stories emerging across the continent. We now have:
AI hubs: Cities like Lagos, Nairobi, and Cairo are establishing themselves as AI hubs, attracting talent and investment worldwide.

Coding boot camps: Organisations like Andela, She Code Africa, and AltSchool are providing training and mentorship to young Africans, equipping them with coding skills that are in high demand globally.

Startups: AI-powered startups like FarmDrive and M-Farm are addressing local challenges in agriculture, healthcare, and finance, demonstrating the potential for AI to drive innovation and growth.

How African Leaders Can Leverage These Technologies

To create job opportunities for African youth, leaders can take the following steps:
Invest in Education and Training: Integrate AI and coding into school curricula to equip students with future-proof skills. Establish vocational training programs and coding boot camps to upskill young Africans.

Foster Innovation Hubs and Incubators: Create dedicated spaces for entrepreneurs, developers, and researchers to collaborate and innovate. Provide funding, mentorship, and resources to support AI-powered startups.

Promote Digital Literacy and Inclusion: Implement initiatives to bridge the digital divide, ensuring equal access to technology and internet connectivity.

Encourage digital literacy programs, empowering young Africans to participate in the digital economy.

Encourage Public-Private Partnerships: Foster collaborations between governments, corporations, and startups to develop AI-powered solutions for local challenges.

Attract foreign investment and expertise to support Africa’s AI ecosystem.

Develop AI-Focused Policies and Regulations: Establish clear guidelines and frameworks for AI development, deployment, and use. Ensure data privacy and security, addressing concerns around bias and ethics.

As we look to the future, we must replicate this impact for the next generation of African youth, empowering them to become tech industry leaders and drive economic growth and transformation across the continent.

By providing access to quality education and training in AI and software development, we can unlock the potential of Africa’s youth and set them on a path to success.

Investing in education, innovation, and digital inclusion can unlock the potential for job creation, economic growth, and sustainable development.

As Africa rises to the challenge, let us remember that the future of work is not just about technology – it’s about people, skills, and our collective vision to shape a better tomorrow.

Together, we can create a brighter future for all Africans, where technology catalyses growth, inclusion, and prosperity.

Bolaji Olajide
Seasoned software engineer, and Andela developer programme alumnus
Writes from Lagos