Executive Summary
Professor Oyebanji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, a development economist and the first Nigerian professor of Industrialisation, Innovation, and Technology Policy, emphasizes the importance of knowledge-led and innovation-driven transformation for Africa. He highlights the need for African nations to invest in infrastructure, nurture national firms, and strategically master technology. Oyelaran-Oyeyinka also advocates for democratizing research and fostering collaboration between universities, governments, and local firms. He points to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a platform to scale industries and attract investment, while also addressing challenges like infrastructure deficits and skills mismatches. He envisions a hybrid future for African industrialization, blending digital and physical production, and emphasizes the need for leadership action to avoid becoming a failed industrial state.
- Africa must prioritize knowledge-led industrialization, leveraging AfCFTA and strategic technology policies to drive economic transformation.
What Is Driving The Story?
- Need for economic diversification
- Opportunity presented by AfCFTA