At the LEAP summit in Shanghai, China, African telecom and ICT leaders urged governments across the continent to lower the cost of digital gadgets to reduce the digital divide and enhance efficiency in various sectors.
The summit, part of the Mobile World Congress from June 24 to June 28, gathered key players to discuss digital advancements.
John Mo, Secretary General of the African Telecommunications Union, called on tech companies to partner with governments to establish manufacturing plants in Africa. He emphasized that affordability is a major issue, particularly in rural areas where digital literacy is low. Mo stressed that reducing taxes on digital gadgets and services would help bridge the access gap.
Mo also highlighted the importance of empowering young people to use digital tools for their prosperity. Noting that Africa’s median youth age is 19, he underscored the significant potential for digital growth and called for cooperation between governments and tech firms to unlock this potential.
Uganda’s ICT Undersecretary, Sophia Nantongo, echoed Mo’s sentiments, advocating for lower taxes on digital gadgets to make them affordable for young people. She pointed out that over 90% of digital devices in Uganda are imported and heavily taxed, hindering access. Nantongo also invited tech firms like Huawei to set up manufacturing plants in Uganda.
Zimbabwe’s ICT Minister, Tatenda Mavetera, encouraged young people to embrace ICT for future opportunities. Meanwhile, Kenya’s Principal Education Secretary, Dr. Beatrice Muganda, called on global tech companies to transform African universities into training hubs to produce more skilled graduates.
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