Africa Using AI to Tackle Development Challenges, Says Data Analyst
Folalumi Alaran in Abuja
As global powers race to dominate Artificial Intelligence (AI) for economic and geopolitical gain, Africa is quietly but deliberately charting its own course, one rooted in necessity, resilience, and inclusive development.
According to Mr Oluwasesan Adedeji David, who is an experienced data analyst, he
gave a detailed insight where he stated that Africa’s engagement with AI reflects a pragmatic and people-centred response to developmental challenges, not a bid to outpace the West in technological supremacy.
According to the tech expert, while countries like the United Kingdom are leveraging AI to boost GDP, enhance global competitiveness, and maintain technological sovereignty, Africa’s vision is different and no less strategic.
He explained that despite infrastructure gaps, limited funding, and inconsistent government policy, African innovators often working from community tech hubs, with support from the diaspora and development agencies are creating solutions that reflect the continent’s realities.
He said: “As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to redefine global innovation and power dynamics, nations are crafting distinct strategies based on their unique contexts and capacities. The United Kingdom, leveraging its robust digital economy and institutional sophistication, views AI as both an economic catalyst and geopolitical asset.
“In contrast, Africa’s approach to AI is pragmatic and socially responsive, prioritizing inclusive growth and grassroots impact over global competitiveness. While both regions recognize AIs transformative potential, their divergent motivations, infrastructural realities, and socio-political values have led to contrasting implementation pathways.
“The UKs AI strategy is driven by its ambition to be a global leader in innovation, economic growth, and regulatory governance. The UK National AI Strategy emphasizes on sustained investment in research and development, ethical innovation, and global influence. Institutions such as The Alan Turing Institute and regulatory bodies like the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation play pivotal roles in shaping this vision, while priority sectors include healthcare, finance, cybersecurity, and defence.
“In comparison, Africa’s AI landscape is rooted in pressing developmental needs. With infrastructure gaps, economic disparities, and limited institutional support, countries across the continent are innovating within constraints. AI adoption is being catalyzed by necessity solving real-world problems in agriculture, healthcare, education, and public service delivery. While government support is growing, much of the momentum comes from startups, community labs, diaspora networks, and international development partnerships.
The tech expert cited instances of AI-powered crop diagnostics helping smallholder farmers in Kenya; drone technology enabling faster medical deliveries in Rwanda; machine learning tools supporting triage and early diagnosis in Ghana’s hospitals; and chatbot-based education platforms delivering content in low-resource schools in Nigeria.
He further referenced initiatives like the Smart Africa Alliance, which are helping to create a policy environment for cross-border digital innovation, and pointed to the rise of natural language processing (NLP) in indigenous African languages as a breakthrough in inclusion.
While dismissing the notion that Africa is merely a passive consumer in the global AI race, he noted that African programmers, researchers, and entrepreneurs are pushing back against the idea that innovation is the sole preserve of the global North.
He stressed that AI development in Africa is not a replication of Western frameworks but an emerging ecosystem with its own philosophy: one that prioritises impact over profit, usability over complexity, and inclusion over centralisation.
His words: “The UKs success metrics are quantitative GDP contributions, patents, venture capital, and skills pipelines. Post-Brexit, AI is seen as a pillar for economic resilience and international relevance. AI sector revenues have exceeded £10 billion, driven by high-value use cases and regional innovation hubs.
“Africa, meanwhile, focuses on qualitative impact. Success is measured by improved healthcare delivery, education access, and socio-economic empowerment. Examples include Rwandas use of drones for medical logistics and Ghanas AI-assisted triage tools. Considering this, we can say that Africa is not simply replicating Western AI models, but forging an inclusive path grounded in cultural relevance and human-centered design.
“The UK and Africa exemplify two instructive AI modelsone infrastructural, formalized, and growth-oriented; the other creative, decentralized, and development-focused. Together, they illustrate that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to AI. The global community stands to benefit from embracing both structured innovation and responsive ingenuity.
“As AI continues to shape our shared digital future, mutual learning and collaboration between regions with different priorities could create more equitable, resilient, and human-centered technologies. This convergence of visions combining power with purpose could redefine what it means to innovate in the 21st century.”
