African Leaders Must Adopt the Use of Artificial Intelligence to Facilitate Socio-Economic Development In Africa - Prof. Abiodun Salawu

Prof. Abiodun Salawu, Director of Research Entity: Indigenous Living in Africa, Faculty of Humanities, North West University, South Africa, has admonished African leaders to embrace the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to facilitate socio-economic development in Africa in order to overcome the current economic challenges the continent is exposed to.


Prof. Salawu, who was the lead paper presenter at the just-ended Faculty of Business and Communication Studies (FBCS) 2019 International Conference held at the Conference Centre, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, said, “One of the merits of AI is that it has a low error rate compared to humans if coded properly. It has incredible meticulousness and speed, which cannot be affected by unfriendly atmospheres, thus able to complete risky tasks, explore in space, and endure complications that would injure or kill human beings.”

He, however, dispelled the misconception that the adoption of AI to enhance all the sectors of the economy in Africa would increase unemployment, citing America, China and European countries as countries where AI has been ceaselessly used to boost their socio-economic development.


While thanking God for his safe arrival in South Africa at the early hours of Monday, August 12, 2019, he also expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the Faculty of Business and Communication Studies, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, as well as the Local Organising Committee for having invited him and accorded him the rare hospitality he enjoyed during his stay in Nigeria.


He, therefore, thanked the members of the Faculty of Business and Communication Studies, The Polytechnic, Ibadan as well as The Polytechnic, Ibadan Community for giving the Local Organising Committee a conducive atmosphere to organise such a world-class international conference.