NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

AfriTECH2022 will delve into the nitty-gritty of Sustainability and The Company Of The Future. As 2022 is gradually winding up, many businesses are still responding to changes in the business environment brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The global crisis introduced the necessity to innovate, forcing many to rethink how they communicate with their customers and repackage product and service offerings for the new landscape – one that is defined by digital transformation.

The numbers illustrate this evolution. According to Statista, 97% of respondents to a digital transformation survey stated that the pandemic sped up digital transformation processes in their respective organisations. Global spending on digital transformation is projected to reach $1.78 trillion in 2022. But in what ways will this transformation manifest? The answer lies in trends that will shape the businesses of tomorrow.
The case is no different for the Government: The current, incremental pace of economic and social advancement shows too many of Africa’s expanding youth population will be denied the opportunity to live up to their potential. Therefore, Africa should think big on digital development.

Digital technologies offer a chance to disrupt this trajectory – unlocking new pathways for rapid economic growth, innovation, job creation and access to services which would have been unimaginable only a decade ago. Yet there is also a growing ‘digital divide’, and increased cyber risks, which need urgent and coordinated action to mitigate. Access to the internet remains out of reach for many citizens in the continent. Too few citizens have digital IDs or transaction accounts – locking them out of access to critical services and e-commerce. Digital startups seek more funding and ‘traditional’ businesses are only slowly adopting digital technologies and platforms to boost productivity and sales.

Few governments are investing strategically and systematically in developing digital infrastructure, services, skills and entrepreneurship. To become tomorrow’s innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders, Africa’s youth need to be empowered with the digital skills and access to technology and markets that are essential to thrive in an increasingly digitized global economy.

Thus, in the increasingly complex world in which business has to evolve, Government Representatives, International Organizations, Diplomats, Investors, Business leaders, CEOs of Companies and Organisations, Innovators, Academia, Start-ups and Entrepreneurs converge at Africa Tech Alliance Forum [AfriTECH] to discuss the need for integrated thinking and what that means for organizational structures and cultures; the traits of leaders of tomorrow’s companies; the connected company; new ways of thinking about value; and the role of regulations, transparency and accountability in the new business order. The time for action is now! Join us at AfriTECH Forum.

Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Lagos | 5:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST