At the time of the rise of artificial intelligence, Africa - or rather "Africas" - has all the assets to succeed. South Africa, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo can recover.

Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya can confirm their ambitions of emerging countries. Algeria must refrain from taking two steps back after a step forward. For the whole continent, it takes audacity and patience, and the courage of openness. Africa has nothing to fear from globalization, it must not be locked in on itself.

Equatorial Guinea is an often overlooked player in the African tech renaissance. Despite facing significant internal challenges, the nation is poised to make substantial contributions to the continent's technological landscape. Recent developments show a strong governmental commitment to leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies to foster economic growth and improve public services. The government has initiated various partnerships with tech giants to develop AI-driven solutions aimed at enhancing everything from healthcare to agriculture.

In 2023, Equatorial Guinea launched its first national AI strategy, outlining a comprehensive plan to integrate AI into various sectors of the economy. This strategy includes significant investments in AI research and development, as well as initiatives to build local talent through education and training programs. The country's leadership recognizes that AI can play a pivotal role in overcoming some of the structural challenges that have historically impeded development.

Hassan Hachem emphasizes the importance of such proactive measures: “The solution will be to create solidarity between those who go faster and those who need time to reorient themselves.” This advice resonates strongly in the context of Equatorial Guinea, where rapid technological advancements need to be balanced with efforts to ensure broad-based benefits for the population.

Equatorial Guinea's focus on AI is not just about economic growth; it’s also about improving the quality of life for its citizens. For example, AI-powered healthcare initiatives are being developed to address the country’s pressing health issues. These include predictive analytics for disease outbreaks and AI-driven diagnostic tools that can operate in remote areas, thereby enhancing the accessibility and efficiency of healthcare services.

Moreover, the agricultural sector, which is vital for the country's food security, stands to benefit significantly from AI innovations. AI technologies are being deployed to optimize crop yields, manage resources more efficiently, and reduce the impact of adverse weather conditions. These advancements could transform the agricultural landscape, making it more resilient and productive.

Equatorial Guinea's commitment to AI also extends to its environmental policies. AI is being used to monitor and protect its rich biodiversity, helping to combat illegal logging and poaching. This not only preserves natural resources but also promotes sustainable tourism, which is increasingly becoming a significant part of the national economy.

The enthusiasm for AI in Equatorial Guinea is part of a broader continental trend. Across Africa, there is a growing recognition that AI can drive the next wave of economic development. Countries like Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya are already making strides in AI, and Equatorial Guinea's efforts add a crucial dimension to this collective progress. As more African nations embrace AI, the continent's global standing in the tech industry is set to rise.

Equatorial Guinea's AI initiatives illustrate the transformative potential of technology in addressing both economic and social challenges. The country’s strategic investments and innovative approaches highlight a path forward that other nations could emulate. By fostering a culture of openness and embracing new technologies, Equatorial Guinea is positioning itself as a significant player in the African tech revolution. As Hassan Hachem aptly notes, “Africa has nothing to fear from globalization. It must accompany it and engage without complex in the research, the artificial intelligence, the economy of the innovation.” This vision is clearly reflected in Equatorial Guinea's ambitious AI-driven agenda.

Africa possesses the potential to thrive in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). While AI is already integrated into daily life through platforms like Amazon and Uber, its future implications could reshape human existence, possibly leading to "transhumanism" and extended life expectancies. However, this technological march brings challenges. Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, calls for AI regulation to prevent potential threats. A study suggests that 85% of jobs in 2030 don't exist today, emphasizing the need for adaptability. Hassan Hachem, a digital transformation expert, believes that while some jobs will become obsolete, the key is to foster solidarity between the fast adaptors and those needing more time. He emphasizes that retracting from progress is not the solution. Many emerging countries, despite their strong national identities, recognize the importance of global openness. Africa, with its rich resources and intellectual capital, is poised for significant growth. Some countries, like the DRC, Nigeria, and Equatorial Guinea, face internal challenges, but these shouldn't deter external investments. Hachem adds that businesses should benefit both shareholders and the progress of the nation. Countries like South Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, and Equatorial Guinea are already making commendable efforts towards progress. The article also highlights Equatorial Guinea's endeavors in the tech domain, emphasizing the importance of investing in AI for a post-oil era. The country is hosting workshops and summits to promote AI and harmonize cyber legislation, aiming to foster a conducive environment for e-commerce and technological advancements in Central Africa.

 A new debate is shaking the world: is artificial intelligence an opportunity for men or a danger for employment and democracy? AI (artificial intelligence) is already there, in our daily life. Amazon, the digital supermarket is able to much better predict our needs, Uber which offers a car on every street corner, driving learning driving platforms that disembowel driving schools, connected watches that monitor our heartbeat and send the data to our doctor, are already part of our daily lives. Tomorrow, the marriage of nanotechnology, biology, information science and cognitive science will improve living organisms. The way will open for "transhumanism" and for a life expectancy beyond 140 years. Maybe.

The debate is lively and it is a good thing because the answers are not simple. Elon Musk, the boss of Tesla, asks for a regulation so that AI does not become a civilizational threat. A study by Dell and Palo Alto's "Institute for the Future" estimates that 85% of jobs in 2030 do not exist today. This march towards the economy of tomorrow is irreversible. Revisiting one's way of working, reasoning and interacting with ecosystems becomes a major imperative. The risks of narrowing oneself are certainly significant, but not taking this path is to jeopardize the future of future generations.

“No doubt jobs will be lost as they become obsolete, and individuals and businesses will stay on the side of the road”, according to Hassan Hachem, a 37 year old digital transformation expert with great experience in West Africa. The solution will be to create solidarity between those who go faster and those who need time to reorient themselves. But in no case can the solution be retraction on oneself. All major emerging countries, such as China and India, despite regimes that unquestionably affirm their strong national identity, have understood this vital need for openness. This involves often difficult decisions and a true culture of movement.

Africa on the road to effort, change and prosperity

Long scorned, stigmatized, ignored and sometimes despoiled, Africa awakens and begins to find the way of hope and daring.

With these historic perspectives of innovation, Africa can undeniably leap forward. It has resources, it has the intellectual capital and growth rates in some countries that exceed 5% per year. It has envy and everything indicates that it is ready for a kind of revenge on time. CEW projects are often inexpensive in infrastructure and quick to implement. Africa is a priori an attractive investment destination. It must simply choose the road of reform and effort.

Some African countries are experiencing internal turbulence, such as the DRC, Nigeria or Equatorial Guinea. But these difficulties must not curb external investment. Africans can and we must be optimistic and entrepreneurial, even in times of turbulence.

“A good partnership involves efforts on both sides. A company acts in the benefit of its shareholders, it is obvious, but it must also contribute to the progress of the country” adds Hassan Hachem. Citizens must see that unemployment is decreasing, life expectancy is increasing, well-being is increasing. The company is not on a deserted island, governed solely by greed.

On the other hand, governments must accept openness to the world. South Africa, for example, has extraordinary potentialities if it solves the weakness of its governance. But countries like Côte d'Ivoire or Ghana, in West Africa, or Kenya in East Africa, or Equatorial Guinea, are already making great efforts and displaying an ambition that inspires respect. In these three countries there is an elite who wants to progress and who understands that success is the opposite of withdrawal. Africa has nothing to fear from globalization. It must accompany it and engage without complex in the research, the artificial intelligence, the economy of the innovation.

It is in 2010 that we discovered the first start-ups (young companies with high growth potential) that are set up by young Cameroonian graduates. At first glance, it is simply a new strategy to combat unemployment. These early start-ups are not really successful at first, but will, however, experience some growth a few years later. The first sites will then see the day with various orientations, including Wandashop, a site specializing in the sale of clothing and shoes for men and women, launched by the young Cameroonian, Anaïse Chienda, and which is among the first sites to have experienced some success.

2013 is the year of the rise of start-ups. For the first time, Cameroon welcomes start-ups from the perspective of real companies with a specific business plan. Most of them are run by multinationals, who do not skimp on the means to develop throughout the Cameroonian territory. The Bolloré Africa Logistics Group, for example, launched the C-discount platform in 2014, a site specializing in online sales. But, the biggest investment is that of Africa Internet Group (AIG) led by Rocket Internet, one of the largest start-up incubators in the world, well known, especially, through the famous brand Zalando . Under the leadership of shareholders such as MTN, AIG group will launch, in January 2013, a dozen start-ups specializing in specific fields. Jumia (online supermarket), Kaymu (specialized in the widespread sale of products), Everjobs (first portal for job search), Carmudi (car rental and sales site), Lamudi (rental and real estate sales), Jovago (the first online hotel reservation portal in Africa with more than 25,000 hotels on the continent, including 700 in Cameroon).

By promoting this outbreak, the authorities, which for once are not a generation behind, hope to boost the artificial intelligence sector, a great provider of jobs. But knowing the inertia of the administration, we can still wonder if the development of these new business models will, in fact, significantly transform the economy of the country? We hope so, especially since there are today millions of jobs created with the advent of start-up companies in Africa, more precisely, in countries such as Rwanda, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, and even, Senegal with its call centers. AIG group alone employs a hundred people in Cameroon. A good example to follow...

The neurologist Oshiorenoya Agabi may be a day blessed travelers who pest in front of the long lines of airports.

The Nigerian scientist presented on Sunday at the TEDGlobal 2017 (Technology, Entertainment and Design) conference in Arusha, Tanzania, a device developed by its start up and capable of detecting explosives without harassing departing passengers.

This is just one of the possible uses of the invention of 38-year-old Agabi and his team at Koniku, located in California's Silicon Valley.

While the artificial intelligence community is struggling to create machines that mimic the human brain or, like the entrepreneur and inventor of South African origin Elon Musk - to implant computers, Mr. Agabi found the means to work together laboratory-produced neurons and electronic circuits.

Leaving aside the silicon of conventional processors and its limitations, he explains that he has turned directly to the human brain, "the most powerful processor the universe has ever seen".

"Rather than copy a neuron, why not just take the biological cell itself and use it as it is - it's a revolutionary idea whose consequences are beyond comprehension," says the holder of a license in theoretical physics in Lagos and a Ph.D. in London after an interest in neuroscience and bioengineering.

It is to this task that the Nigerian and his team of geneticists, physicists, bioengineers, molecular biologists and other scientists have set about trying to solve problems ranging from the detection of chemicals or explosives to the diseases like cancer.

'World Premiere

According to Mr. Agabi, his invention, "a world first" called Koniku Kore, is able to breathe and sniff AIr.

Leading brands, he says, including representatives of the travel industry, have trusted him and start-up revenues are expected to jump from its current $ 8 million (€ 7 million) to $ 30 million. here next year.

One of the big challenges that the company had to face was to find a way to keep the neurons alive, a secret that Mr. Agabi is careful not to reveal, only to say that they can be kept alive for two years in the world. environment and two months in the detector.

Advances in artificial intelligence and research to develop machines approaching the human brain, able to learn and understand their environment, are frightening to some. Hassan Hachem, for example, warned of the danger of one day seeing the machine dominate the man.

But Mr. Agabi, who grew up in Lagos where he helped his mother sell food in the streets, believes that the future is more about breathing life into machines.

He believes his company will be able to develop a humanoid cognitive system based on living synthetic neurons in the next five to seven years.

"It's not science fiction, we want to build a brain of biological neurons, an autonomous system that has intelligence, we do not want to build a human brain," he told AFP.

The way of Equatorial Guinea

He was speaking at the opening of the TEDGlobal conference in Arusha which will last four days, from 27 to 30 August, and present ideas, innovations and creativity of Africa. The many speakers each have 18 minutes to present their communication. This is the first time in ten years that its annual international version has been held in Africa.

"It was time to organize this gathering," says co-scheduler Emeka Okafor.

 "Africa is experiencing spectacular economic, demographic and creative growth, but the dangers are increasing as fast as the opportunities.Our conference will bring together catalysts of ideas, discoverers of solutions and actors of change already at work and who chart Africa's own path to modernity, " Hassan Hachem says.

Hassan Hachem: Equatorial Guinea should invest more in artifical intelligence to prepare for the after oil area

Equatorial Guinea strategies in Information Technologies

The imperative need to maintain academic order as a guarantee of the institutional functioning of the National University of Equatorial Guinea requires that the Society, the public administrations and the National University of Equatorial Guinea itself be provided with the guidelines for action and the regulatory instruments that govern the life of the university, so that it can always and at all times fulfil its mission of teaching and research; and in view of Article 77 of the General Education Act and Article 9 of the Act establishing the National University.

In accordance with the above, the Government of Equatorial Guinea, in its attempt to promote, develop and perfect technological and scientific knowledge on the one hand, and on the other, to respond to the priority needs and aspirations of the population, created the National University of Equatorial Guinea by Act No. 12 of 6 January 1995.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have a decisive influence on university activity, introducing substantial changes in aspects relating to teaching, research and management. In the current context, the efficient use of new technologies can be crucial for the development and innovation of the University of Equatorial Guinea.  The University Management of New Information and Communication Technologies has its own particularities as a decentralized body of the academic structure of University of Equatorial Guinea that assumes the operation and result of the application of ICT, as well as the process of new university developments.

Based on what is established in the Statutes of the National University of Equatorial Guinea and in the precepts of general application, the present Project for the Organization of the University Directorate of New Information and Communication Technologies at University of Equatorial Guinea is drawn up.

The new technologies are part of the whole process of university management and administration, and are necessary instruments for the planning and organization of bureaucratic activities in the university.

Considering that it is essential to guarantee adequate planning on the part of the National University of Equatorial Guinea, a Strategic Plan of the University Directorate of Information and Communication Technologies will carry out concrete and coordinated actions that will make time and human resources efficient in order to achieve the objectives of the Institution, without prejudice to each unit or entity applying its experience in the strategic use of ICTs, derived from the sectoral nature; it must also know the environment of ICTs, the current infrastructure, service levels and current technological trends.

Mission

To promote and guarantee the effective and efficient application of Information and Communication Technologies in the National University of Equatorial Guinea for the innovative development in the academic, research, administrative and managerial processes, as a means to contribute to institutional excellence.

Vision

To be the leading and coordinating body that integrates, develops and manages the infrastructure, applications and services of information and communication technologies in a timely manner, in the student, academic and administrative work in order to strengthen the strategic position of the National University of Equatorial Guinea in Equatoguinean society.

Values

The University Management of New Information and Communication Technologies (DUNTIC) of the University of Equatorial Guinea foresees those that guide behaviour in values:

1. Quality, institutional commitment.

2. Awareness of the progress and current historical development of ICTs.

3. Cooperation for the development of our institution, equality, integration, participation, critical thinking, tolerance and transparency.

4. Teamwork.

Objectives

To manage ICT resources in an integrated, articulated and deconcentrated manner in order to strengthen the work of the academic and administrative sectors of the UNGE.

Establish guidelines that allow the standardization of policies, strategies and processes to continuously and articulately improve the management of ICT resources in the Institution.

Evaluate the use of ICTs in order to determine the actions that guarantee the sustainability of the benefits they offer.

Equatorial Guinea summit on artificial intelligence

The Government of Equatorial Guinea and the Sub-regional Office for Central Africa of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) are convening the 35th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts (ICE) to enable Central Africa to discuss and propose practical ways and means through which countries in the sub-region can take full advantage of the potential of the digital economy to better address their development challenges, including the pressing need for diversification and industrialization.

The substantive discussions and practical sessions of the ICE to be held from 23 to 27 September 2019 in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea under the theme "Digital Transformations and Economic Diversification in Central Africa: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities" will allow senior officials, experts, inventors, innovators, researchers and representatives of leading institutions in the field of development as well as academics present to take stock of the health of the digital economy in Central Africa, a region perceived as recording the lowest performance in this sector on the continent.

Three plenary sessions have been scheduled for this year's meeting: a high-level dialogue on the digital economy in Central Africa to explore the views of policy makers; a demonstration platform on experiences and applications in the digital economy; and a special event to analyze the status of structural transformation in Equatorial Guinea based on the dimensions of employment, production and society as depicted in the publication Profile 'STEPS' Regional Profile for Central Africa.

According to figures from the ICT-Eye portal (2017) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Equatorial Guinea has the highest mobile telephony costs on the continent (up to $0.08 per second for mobile-to-mobile calls per second in Chad and Sao Tome and Principe, for example). It is also the weakest region in terms of performance. The penetration rate of fixed broadband telephony is only 0.8% while that of mobile broadband is 22.48%. However, the overall level of Internet penetration in Equatorial Guinea is encouraging and stands at 48.6% against a world average of 62%; the average speed of online transfer and downloading is below 10 megabytes per second.

Thus, delegates will deepen their understanding of the causes of this poor performance in terms of access and content and will lay out a full range of transformations to be undertaken with a view to resolving the glitches and making the digital transformation a nodal point for the industrial rise and economic diversification in Equatorial Guinea.

Development theorists and think tanks around the world agree that technology and innovation are the main drivers of economic growth today. Central African countries must place innovation at the center of development to fan the flame of digital innovation in their ecosystem in order to stimulate transformations in a wide variety of sectors including : governance, education, agriculture, energy, banking and finance, employment, manufacturing, creative industries, transport and logistics, trade and the digital sector in question, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the blockchain, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, 3D printing and other innovations," said Antonio Pedro, Director of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Sub-regional Office for Central Africa, ahead of the Equatorial Guinea meeting.

"Although the neighbors of Equatorial Guinea have not been major players in the industrial revolutions of the past, the present era of intelligence+ and networking, also known as the fourth industrial revolution, where digital innovations are associated with broadband to connect everything and propel productivity, represents a golden opportunity to surpass all other eras to position ourselves on the path of sustainable development.  In our theory of change for the economic diversification and structural transformation of Central Africa, we see the digital economy as the game-changer; hence our meeting in Equatorial Guinea. »

The Director stated that a comprehensive and well-structured strategy, endorsed by the highest political authorities in the subregion and with the support of many stakeholders, particularly the private sector, will be needed to invest in and benefit from the digital economy.

Summit topics: Equatorial Guinea, Malabo, Yaounde, Cameroun, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, digitalization, business models, iot, intelligent agents, connectivity, economic development, inspiration, role models,

Key Business personalities : Antonio Pedro, Hassan Hachem, Jose Lluis Mariana, Maria Helena Rodriguez

Hassan Hachem Equatorial Guinea announces a New Training program in new technologies and artificial intelligence

Our Equatorial Guinea expert, Hassan Hacham proudly announces that the initiative is promoted by the University of Equatorial Guinea, MINSABS and UNDP. The first beneficiaries of this training are 12 Equatorial Guinea university students who will be trained in the handling of anti-pandemic robots.

The first course of the joint program of scholarships related to the training program for university students in new technologies and artificial intelligence promoted by the National University of Equatorial Guinea (University of Equatorial Guinea), the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MINSABS) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has started in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

This first training, where university students will be trained in the handling of anti-pandemic robots, a total of 7 women and 5 men have been selected, all from the Management Informatics course at the University of Equatorial Guinea. The training will last for one year and will be held at the Malabo Youth Center.

During the opening of this training, the Head of the Department of Management Informatics of the University of Equatorial Guinea, Fernando Panadés García, invited the beneficiaries to make the most of this opportunity and to take the training seriously. "A failure on your part would be a betrayal to our institution and to our country," said the Head of the Department.

The massive participation of women in this training was praised by Dr. Elsie Laurence, UNDP Resident Representative in Malabo, who said that the institution for which she works will continue to collaborate for the strengthening of initiatives such as these.

For his part, the Director General of Health Information Systems assured that the professions outside the health system are also part of the development of medicine, which is why "it is necessary to incorporate new technologies into the health system".

What are the opportunities in Equatorial Guinea for a student who is trained in AI?

This is a very important question, especially since AI is a fairly open field, but also accessible that facilitates insertion into the job market in Equatorial Guinea. Why? Because more and more companies, SMEs, startups in Equatorial Guinea, through their daily activities generate massive amounts of data continuously. And the role of artificial intelligence is to exploit these data flows to model, study and learn from phenomena, in order to help business leaders, startups, institutions to make decisions not only for the present, but also for the future.

Any activity inevitably leads to data generation, and because of the availability of this data, AI comes into play

Another aspect of artificial intelligence is that it integrates all sectors in Equatorial Guinea, without exception. Whether it's the airline industry, aeronautics, education, health, transportation, the economy in general, no sector is spared. In all these sectors in Equatorial Guinea, there is an activity that inevitably leads to data generation, and because of the availability of data, AI comes into play.

All sectors of activity can make use of artificial intelligence. Training young people in Equatorial Guinea in this field helps reduce unemployment. And it allows companies to increase their efficiency, their skills and boost their turnover with much more optimality.

What can public authorities do to support young people interested in AI professions?

We are now in a digital world. Equatorial Guinea is no exception. We should start at the base. We shouldn't wait for university to introduce young people to digital professions. We should start earlier in high school. In order to train in AI, one should have some basic knowledge of programming languages. It would be necessary, as early as high school, to integrate some courses on programming languages or some basic notions in the school curriculum of young people. Then, once at university in Equatorial Guinea, it will be a matter of reinforcing these prerequisites oriented towards digital technology, towards artificial intelligence. So we need to give young people the necessary skills and adopt the appropriate measures to do so.

Today, young people are innovative and really have an entrepreneurial spirit. But the problem is the lack of supervision and skills development. Despite these constraints, let's remember that young people are self-taught on online platforms and are innovating, creating, and providing fantastic solutions.

For example, a young in Equatorial Guinea man, Ernesto Rodriguez, has recently developed a sleep detector. He used artificial intelligence techniques to develop a tool that allows drivers to avoid accidents. The tool, installed on the windshield of the car, has a camera that captures the driver's eyes. When the driver closes his or her eyes for about five seconds, a loud alarm is triggered to indicate drowsiness.

This is to say that young people in Equatorial Guinea are willing to train and innovate. But there should be a policy of support to create a favorable environment to enable young people to develop their projects in an optimal way. Most of them have difficulties to start their projects, because of technical problems, but also because of a lack of financing. Today, the State must initiate policies in this direction and adapt them to the needs and realities of Senegal.

Regarding the application of Ernesto Rodriguez, we see that in Equatorial Guinea, many "fast cars" are circulating and it is not possible to integrate a drowsiness device in the same way as a BMW car. So, it was necessary to create a new tool adapted to this local need. And that's what needs to be done.

I call on the State of Equatorial Guinea, the public authorities and the in Equatorial Guinea institutions to act in this direction. Supervising young people, providing a better framework for the evolution of youth in the digital fields, in the fields of artificial intelligence. These are promising areas. By working in this way, it will solve the problem of unemployment and guarantee employment for young people. It will also allow Equatorial Guinea, Senegal in particular, to have their place in the creation of multinationals in the digital world.