Peter Onwualu, the president of the African University of Science and Technology, says ideas, innovation, and knowledge should drive Africa’s economic transformation.

Mr Onwualu said this at the opening of the three-day AfricaX Summit on Monday in Abuja. 

Mr Onwualu said that Africa had the potential to grow economically, but it required intentional efforts, strategic thinking and a culture of innovation adopted by institutions, industries and the people.

Mr Onwualu said that education was the bedrock of solving critical national issues, adding that the future of Africa depended on how students think critically to solve complex problems and create values.

According to him, one of AUST’s proudest contributions in that regard is its Inspired Innovation hub, which fosters a mindset shift that challenges students to move from learning to active creation.

He further said that the government needed to create an enabling environment through supportive policies and investments, while the private sector should play an active role in funding partnerships and scaling innovation.

According to him, Africa’s challenges are unique and require localised innovation instead of relying on imported models that do not reflect our realities.

Kingsley Ogwudu, the chairman of the Africa X Summit organising committee, said Africa had a huge youthful population, abundant natural resources, and an evolving digital landscape that could transform the continent’s economy.

Mr Ogwudu said challenges such as climate change, inequality gaps, and infrastructural deficits had, over time, derailed progress in Africa.

He further said that collaboration among the government and private sectors, civil society organisations, international partners and other stakeholders was needed to create an ecosystem where ideas thrived. 

(NAN)