The theme of African Agency becomes connected with STEM as Dr Kamau speaks to the relevance of technology. Kamau obtained his PhD in solid state science from Penn State. He grew in the business world, eventually creating the Gearbox that does a lot of work on innovations and fabrications. Gearbox enables young innovators to take their projects from the universities to the market.
He projects a growing population, the movement of businesses to Africa, and the concept of a 4th industrial revolution based on extreme connectivity and automation. He points to the merger of sciences and technology. If Africa does not respond to these rapid changes, he argues that a recolonization can occur. As a continent, we must be quick to develop or technologies, understand the growth in robots and manufacturing.
He praises the new president of Ethiopia for understanding the growth of new technologies and robotics and where the future jobs will be. We must teach logic in combination with intuition and expose our millennials to understand the future of productions. How should we prepare for the future? How would technology transform production in Africa and create employment and sustainability?
He points to billions of money pumped into the East African economy by a new generation of young people creating huge impact. Unfortunately, the beneficiaries are outsiders who invade the market space. Well trained and savvy, the new entrepreneurs are savvy and know how to tap into deep money. Drivers of production need not focus on deals and politics but on technology and creativity.
Africa must tap into talents.
My take is how we can develop a rigorous auditing mechanism in Africa to create an informed policy environment to push new technologies, to follow up on ideas and innovations that work, take advantage of our talented young women and men.
Education is key: it must be relevant, rigorous and adaptable.
Buy Africa, build Africa!
Dr Kamau is a brilliant speaker, persuasive and practical. He is able to connect with participants from the humanities and social sciences.
TF
Sent from my iPhone
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