This archive report was first published on 20 October 2019.
Published on October 20, 2019, by SAM WAMBUGU, a renowned author.
As technology continues to revolutionize various sectors of development, Africa is poised for sweeping changes that will impact every aspect of life. The next megacities are projected to emerge in Africa, leading to unprecedented urbanization and a significant increase in the demand for better services.
The continent's growing middle class is driving this demand, seeking improved education, healthcare, food, transportation, and communication. With declining mortality rates, especially among children under five, and improving living conditions, Africans are living longer than their predecessors.
As the population grows and becomes wealthier, the demand for food, particularly animal protein and grains, is increasing. This pressure is forcing livestock farmers to expand their operations, while crop producers are under pressure to produce more on the same land, leading to a surge in land prices.
The internet and allied technologies have bridged geographical boundaries, enabling farmers in Kisumu to trade with fish-processing plants in Kumasi or flower farmers in Naivasha to sell to the Netherlands.
Artificial intelligence is expected to play a significant role in shaping the continent's future, bringing both opportunities and challenges. To navigate these changes, Africa needs leaders with the vision, resolve, and selflessness to future-proof their countries.
As leadership guru John Maxwell aptly puts it,
