The 12th Anniversary Lecture of Realnews, a general interest magazine has provided solutions to myriads of challenges bedeviling Africa in the era of artificial intelligence and technology landscape.
Newsconnect reports that the theme for the 12th edition of the Magazine was dubbed “Africa in world shifting geopolitics: Matters Arising on demography, technology, artificial intelligence, natural resources”.
The Publisher of Realnews Magazine Maureen Chigbo emphasized the importance of investigative, robust, and excellent journalism in her welcome salvo.
Maureen in an interview with Newsconnect correspondence at the event expressed what predicated the theme of the 12th Anniversary Lecture.
In her own words, she said;
“The world is shifting, the politics is shifting, the geopolitics is shifting, people need to be aware of other variables influencing society like AI, technology.
“Whatever is happening else where affects Africa so we need to be conscious and aware of all the developments and see how we can marry them to develop Africa”. She said.
The Special adviser on Policy Coordination to President Bola Tinubu Bala Hadiza who spoke virtually as a keynote speaker said
Africa has a huge population and that population is indeed an asset to us.
“We also recognize the need for larger understanding of Innovation and larger understanding of artificial intelligence.
“Africa needs to design its own chart, we need to design what we want. We need to have understanding of what we want from international partners.
“We need to take the lead in terms of what we require in terms of support, need, we also need to know the challenge around the availability of natural resources within the continent, and its relevance to us as Nigeria and the larger states”. She said.
His Excellency Ambassador Prof Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, Nigerian Academic and diplomat who was physically present at the event as a keynote speaker among other things during his speech said we want a new world order, that is collectively designed, created and implemented.
Another keynote speaker, a technologist, innovator, Engineer Shehu Tijani said
Africa can play a critical role if it harnesses its potentials. He opined that Africa should identifying the raw materials it needed and produced them. That as the world is shifting with the advent of technology and AI, Africa countries should move and transform itself by producing what it consumes.
Dr Karim El Ayanoui Executive President Policy Center for the new South, Rabat, Morocco was also a keynote speaker.
Ms Beatrice Eyong, country representative UN women, Nigeria was inducted into Real News Hall of Fame.
As the Chairperson, she mentioned in her welcome address the rivalry between the stronger countries on earth such as, the US, China and Russia. The rising number of resource-related conflicts leading to insecurities (even in countries called developed) and the detrimental consequences of those wars.
“The issues related to ineffective democracies in developing countries leading to members of economic blocks breaking away- Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry. The increased demographics ie. High birth rate vis a vis underdevelopment causing a huge brain drain from African countries through professional and un professional migrations;
“The economic downturn of African Countries; Huge gender based violence and the situation of Women and girls especially as it concerns the feminization of poverty, morbidity and mortality leading to the under-development of African countries.
“No country can develop with high rate of gender inequalities and the feminization of under-development”. She opined.
The distinguished audience included Aminu Maida, Managing Director of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), who was represented by Reuben Mouka, Director of Public Affairs. The event also welcomed experts in the field, such as Kayode Adedayo, Director of Proceeds of Crime Department at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and Felix Obiamalu, Associate Director of the National Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
