Connecting Africa is part of the Informa Tech Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 3099067.

Digital Inclusion

ATF 2022: Government departments need digital training

Article Image
A digital overhaul is needed in African government departments overseeing the policies and regulations governing the fourth industrial revolution (4IR).

This is according to Mafikeng Digital Innovation Hub CEO, Joseph Ndaba, who was speaking during a panel discussion aimed at empowering SMMEs at Africa Tech Festival in Cape Town.

Ndaba added that these departments are drafting policies and regulations for small businesses in Africa; however, in some cases, the people working there do not know what they are drafting policies for.

"How do we introduce digital transformation in government departments because we have innovators that need support? However, when they get to those offices, people don't understand what they are saying," Ndaba continued.

"Public servants are not exposed to what those digital innovators are talking about; we are not doing justice to small businesses because we are creating policies without them. We are not engaging them when we are drafting a policy that we need to assist them," he said.

Ndaba said he believed that small business owners need to take up space and participate in discussions that concern them.

"We are always speaking for small businesses, but we never involve them. When we look at spaces like these, how many small businesses are involved in connecting with African leaders and the ICT industry?" he questioned.

Ndaba said the continent was also in need of innovative companies that are bringing solutions to champion the fourth industrial revolution.


Want to know more about digital inclusion in Africa? Check out our dedicated Digital Inclusion content channel here on Connecting Africa.


The United Nations Chief of Africa Section, Habiba Ben Barka, added that startups all over Africa face similar challenges like access to means for growth.

In other panels at Africa Tech Festival, industry experts agreed that government entities and regulators have not been keeping up with what is required to continue to drive digital development on the African continent.

They also agreed that policymakers lacked education and understanding of emerging technologies on the continent.

Related posts:

*Top image is of Mafikeng Digital Innovation Hub CEO Joseph Ndaba. (Source: Africa Tech Festival).

— Matshepo Sehloho, Associate Editor, Connecting Africa

Innovation hub

Story

Hot startup of the month: Nigeria's Tech Herfrica

Connecting Africa's hot startup is Nigeria's Tech Herfrica, a social impact organization that focuses on the digital and financial inclusion of women and girls in rural areas of Nigeria.

Story

Omdia View: February 2024

Highlights in February 2024 in the Middle East and Africa included 5G launches in Senegal and 5G trials in Egypt as well as Kenya's first 5G MVNO. Airtel also launched a new wholesale connectivity business while MTN and Huawei are planning a joint Innovation Technology Lab in South Africa – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

More Innovation hub

Latest video

More videos

Partner perspectives

All Partner Perspectives

Sponsored video

More videos

Industry announcements

More Industry announcements

Upcoming events

Africa Tech Festival 2024
November 11-14, 2024
Cape Town, South Africa
More Upcoming events

Africa Tech Perspectives

Story

Uber's Marjorie Saint-Lot on inclusion and sustainability in Africa

Uber's Country Manager for Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, Marjorie Saint-Lot, shares how the ride-hailing company is approaching public-private partnerships, environmentally friendly initiatives and gender inclusion in Africa.

Story

The 100 most influential African leaders in 2023

A new report from Africa Tech Festival and Connecting Africa puts a spotlight on the top 100 African leaders in the telecoms and technology sector in 2023.

Story

Deep dive into East Africa's tech startup ecosystem

New survey reveals a lack of access to investors, reliance on international VCs and global recession trends as the biggest barriers for East African tech startups to access funds.

More Africa Tech perspectives

Guest Perspectives

Story

Omdia View: February 2024

By Omdia Analysts

Highlights in February 2024 in the Middle East and Africa included 5G launches in Senegal and 5G trials in Egypt as well as Kenya's first 5G MVNO. Airtel also launched a new wholesale connectivity business while MTN and Huawei are planning a joint Innovation Technology Lab in South Africa – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

Story

Omdia View: January 2024

By Omdia Analysts

Highlights in January 2024 in the Middle East and Africa included a $200 million fintech deal between MTN and Mastercard as well as 5G network trials by Telecom Egypt – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

More Guest Perspectives

Like us on Facebook

Newsletter Sign Up


Sign Up
Tag id test-002