In the wake of a global pandemic that has disrupted the overall growth and development of the African continent in many areas, there is an urgent need for public discourse on proffering solutions to these multifaceted challenges.
This is why the Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) Foundation has prioritised the role of technology as it hosts the fourth edition of its Breakfast Dialogue; an annual event that provides a platform for public, private, and social sector leaders to have insightful conversations on global social issues.
The 2020 edition of the Breakfast Dialogue which is set to hold virtually on the 29th & 30th of September, 2020 at 10 am Prompt (WAT) will focus on the theme: “Tech for Good: Fostering Social Innovation and Digital Investments for Transformative Change”. The dialogue is set to address the challenges occasioned by the pandemic on the socio-economic wellbeing of vulnerable populations in Africa. The first-ever virtual edition of the Breakfast Dialogue will also seek to explore technology-driven and smarter solutions to tackle the complex issues that have confronted the development of the continent.
According to the Foundation’s CEO, Osayi Alile, “While digitized economies have been able to significantly maintain socioeconomic and education systems in spite of social distancing policies, Africa seems to be way behind these developments. We have discovered that although mainstreaming digitalization for innovative growth must be a priority for Africa’s leadership, technology must be combined with a will towards the common good”.
Experts drawn from various sectors of the economy are set to suggest ideas and spark collective action required to bridge Africa’s digital divide, deliver urgent impact, foster innovation, and frame long-term strategies towards more resilient and prosperous communities across Africa.
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The discussion on digitizing Africa is a major highlight of the Breakfast Dialogue 2020, which ACT Foundation believes that digital technologies supported by infrastructure will help rebuild the continent’s economy and fast-track development.
The two-day event will be kickstarted by a keynote address by Lesley Williams, CEO, Wits Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, Johannesburg and panel sessions featuring speakers such as Professor Olayinka David-West – Academic Director, Lagos Business School; Nkemdilim Begho – Managing Director of Future Software Resources Nigeria Ltd; Bosun Tijani – CEO at Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB) and Ukinebo Dare – Managing Director, Edo State Skills Development Agency (EDOJOBS).
Other speakers include: Temie Giwa-Tubosun – Founder and CEO, Life Bank Nigeria; Oluseyi Oyebisi, Executive Director, Nigeria Network of NGOs; Lade Araba, President and Co-Founder, Visiola Foundation and Sharmi Surianarain – Chief Impact Officer, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator alongside other notable professionals and entrepreneurs.
Consequently, the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has also unmasked Africa’s substantial digital divide, revealing how much the continent suffers from a dearth of digital infrastructure. This wide gap in digital infrastructure limits a robust response to the effects of enforced lockdowns and other containment measures on livelihoods, health and education. Apart from the conversations, the 2020 Breakfast Dialogue will continue in its annual tradition of hosting masterclasses on prevalent ecosystem challenges.
This year, a trio of Ololade Otayemi – Chief of Staff, Ventures Platform Hub; Emilia Asim – Founder/Practice Director, AML and Chidi Koldsweat – Founder, Donors for Africa will lead sessions designed to train participants on using technology for optimizing social impact, storytelling and writing proposals that secure grants for social impact projects, respectively.
