By John Ikani
President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame has asserted that Tech-Savvy Youths will play a key role in stimulating development and transformation on the African continent.
Kagame made the assertion on Tuesday at the opening of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) Mobile World Congress (MWC) Africa 2022 in Kigali.
According to the Rwanda President, Africa has millions of young people whose lives are driven by technology and must be taken advantage of to drive continental development.
“Africa is home to creative and tech-savvy youth, looking for the right platform to contribute solutions. We cannot afford to reduce them to a statistic, only, or sit idly by, as they seek opportunity outside of Africa,”
“Our young people have a lot to offer. We must do our part, and keep our promise to them,” he said.
He reiterated that significant strides have been made on the continent to accelerate the digital transformation, through initiatives spearheaded by the African Union and Smart Africa, among others, but added that to leave no one behind, the continent must create a more enabling legal and regulatory environment.
“However, to leave no one behind means a number of things as well, and we must recognize that digital transformation is not a zero-sum game, where progress must come at the expense of the most vulnerable. Not at all.”
“Everyone, regardless of status, gender, or nationality, must benefit, if we want to create lasting change,” President Kagame said, making a rallying call.
The three-day MWC organized in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda, brings together 2,000 participants from more than 75 operators with almost 400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem.
It is the first in-person of its kind held on the African continent.
The meeting which normally takes place in Barcelona Spain will be showcasing cutting-edge technology demos that will redraw the boundaries of possibility.
The MWC also fuels innovation and grows ideas by introducing investors to visionary startups and guiding governments in the transition from physical to digital.
