A Call for Global Maturity: Bridging the Digital Divide in Africa and Beyond

*Simon Maina / AFP / Getty Images / Pupils from Light House Grace academy use the Kio tablet created by the local technology company BRCK Education during a class sesssion in Kawangware, Nairobi.* **Introduction: A World Deprived of Africa’s Brightest Solutions** Imagine, for a moment, that an entire spectrum of genius—billions of creative sparks—was abruptly extinguished. It’s not just about losing numbers; it’s about losing a vital, irreplaceable dimension of human innovation. Scientists increasingly agree that cultural, environmental, and even epigenetic differences can give rise to radically distinct ways of thinking and problem-solving. When these differences collide constructively, they produce breakthroughs that reshape our world, from computing to healthcare to urban design. If Africa’s diverse contribution to global technology were suddenly removed, humanity would forfeit a treasure trove of untapped solutions—solutions we didn’t even know we needed, born from contexts many of us have never experienced. From a purely scientific standpoint, our brains are not simply wired by birth; they are shaped continuously by cultural contexts and generational influences. This epigenetic interplay—where genes switch on or off in response to environmental factors—can foster unique mental pathways. In regions as diverse as Africa, where hundreds of cultural groups each navigate distinct geographies and historical legacies, the human mind adapts in ways fundamentally different from those in Western or Eastern settings. These neurological “maps” of experiences inspire fresh angles for tackling global challenges: from new approaches to agricultural resilience in drought-prone areas, to cost-effective medical diagnostics for remote communities, to entirely novel forms of digital finance exemplified by African-led innovations like mobile money (M-PESA). If Africa were cut off from the digital arena—its emerging tech hubs silenced, its problem-solvers overlooked, its young innovators disconnected—humanity would lose more than just an extra set of hands at the global table. We’d lose an entire library of evolutionary knowledge, cultural ingenuity, and historically shaped problem-solving methods. This isn’t hyperbole; it’s a stark truth. When Africa “comes online” in full force, we gain not merely additional coders, but an unparalleled repository of solutions for some of our most urgent scientific, social, and economic problems. To cast that future aside is to deprive ourselves of the kind of radical, world-changing breakthroughs we could never engineer on our own—even in our wildest dreams. ## Google’s $1 Billion Investment: Paving the Way to Society 5.0 In a bold move reflecting both commercial foresight and social responsibility, Google has pledged to invest \$1 billion in Africa’s digital ecosystem, aiming to expand infrastructure, nurture startup growth, and catalyze technological skills across the continent. Beyond mere business strategy, this investment represents a tangible step toward actualizing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the broader 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Often referred to as the “global goals,” the SDGs are a set of 17 interlinked objectives—ranging from eradicating poverty to fostering sustainable innovation—that all member states of the UN have committed to achieving by 2030. These goals underscore a future where technology, inclusivity, and sustainability are intertwined. Yet, none of these global milestones can be fully reached without acknowledging the global shift toward “Society 5.0”—a term coined in Japan to describe a “super-smart society” in which physical and digital realms merge to enhance human well-being. Crucially, Society 5.0 is meant for everyone, not just a privileged few. It is color-blind by design; what matters is our capacity to care for one another, to innovate responsibly, and to adapt to rapidly changing social, economic, and environmental realities. In such a future, racism is simply incompatible with collective progress. The outdated mentality that judges people by their skin color has no place in a world increasingly defined by cooperation, shared knowledge, and mutual respect. The countdown to 2030—the SDGs’ target date—serves as a reminder that we must shed the remnants of bigotry if we hope to thrive in Society 5.0. Google’s billion-dollar commitment in Africa is more than an act of corporate philanthropy; it’s an investment in a continent brimming with talent, creativity, and unique perspectives that can propel global innovation. As the digital decade unfolds, Africa’s tech revolution has the potential to offer solutions to problems we haven’t even imagined yet. And in the true spirit of Society 5.0, those solutions will benefit every community—across every continent—because the future values resilience, collaboration, and collective upliftment over any artificial distinctions. By 2030, our aim should be nothing less than a unified humanity, marching into a new era where the color of one’s skin, or any superficial trait, is outweighed by the content of one’s character and the brilliance of one’s ideas. > “The internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.” > — Bill Gates I’ve traveled the world and observed enough to know that the digital divide isn’t some abstract concept to be dismissed with laughter or eye-rolls. It’s not a punchline or a meme. It is a very real and dire global crisis, one that disproportionately affects people in Africa and other under-resourced regions of the world. Let’s be clear: a significant part of humanity is being left behind in a world increasingly governed and powered by technology. When I recently took to social media to shine a light on this critical issue, the response was disturbingly cynical. I read comment after comment of people scoffing or mocking the very notion that Africans—or so-called Black people—deserve the same level of digital access and opportunity as anyone else. The vitriol and laughter reveal a deep ignorance and, frankly, a shameful prejudice that perpetuates inequality on a global scale. ## Dismantling the “Comedic Skit”: Africa’s Tech Aspirations Are No Joke I’ve noticed a pattern in these dismissive attitudes: the moment I bring up African empowerment—particularly regarding technology—some people seem to treat it as if it were a parody. Yet for over 1.3 billion people living on the continent, this conversation is anything but funny. The idea of African nations advancing technologically is often belittled or met with disbelief, as if the continent itself were somehow incompatible with the digital future. This condescension is rooted in centuries of systemic inequality, racism, and colonial-era assumptions that still echo in modern discourse. A 2022 report from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) found that **2.9 billion people worldwide still remain offline**, and a significant percentage of them are in sub-Saharan Africa. According to the World Bank, **only 37% of sub-Saharan Africa’s population currently has access to the internet**. These are not trivial statistics; they represent millions of children who cannot access online learning, millions of entrepreneurs who cannot tap into global markets, and millions of families cut off from telemedicine and other digital resources. When we laugh at the idea of bridging this gap, we’re not just laughing at people lacking smartphones or broadband; we’re effectively laughing at their potential and their future. This laughter isn’t harmless—it’s a barrier to progress. **UNESCO considers digital literacy a fundamental right**, in line with the universal right to education, emphasizing that without access to digital tools and knowledge, entire populations are at risk of perpetuating cycles of poverty and exclusion. ## Diversity as the Pulse of Innovation > “Innovation comes out of great human ingenuity and very personal passions.” > — Megan Smith, Former U.S. Chief Technology Officer Diversity is more than a corporate buzzword—it's the lifeblood of innovation. In the realms of AI and education technology, having a variety of perspectives is critical to creating inclusive solutions that serve a global audience. Without diversity in engineering teams, research groups, or policy-making bodies, we risk creating technologies that cater only to a small, homogenous fraction of the world. We’ve already seen the consequences of this lack of diversity through **biased algorithms** that misidentify faces with darker skin tones or systematically marginalize certain communities. In 2018, a study by MIT researcher Joy Buolamwini and Dr. Timnit Gebru found that **commercial facial recognition systems misclassified the gender of darker-skinned women up to 34.7% of the time**, versus less than 1% for lighter-skinned men. Such disparities underscore the urgency of including African voices in technology’s development. Yet beyond correcting these biases, Africa holds a wealth of untapped creative energy. Organizations like **the Raspberry Pi Foundation** and **Google’s AI initiatives** are starting to turn African youth into tech-savvy creators—individuals not just consuming but **shaping** global technology trends. For instance, schools in Nairobi are incorporating the **Kio tablet** and other educational tech solutions, proving that with proper support, African students can excel in fields like coding, robotics, and AI. These young innovators will be tomorrow’s global problem-solvers, offering fresh insights and resilience honed by local challenges. ## The Digital Divide as a Human Rights Issue > “We cannot leave anyone behind if we want to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.” > — António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General Calling the digital divide a “human rights issue” is not hyperbole. In our 21st-century reality, lacking digital access can mean lacking the ability to exercise basic rights to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity. The **United Nations General Assembly** has declared internet access a human right, underscoring that connectivity underpins many of the **Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)**, including quality education (SDG 4) and decent work and economic growth (SDG 8). When people laugh at the prospect of Africans having the same level of connectivity as the rest of the world, they are effectively endorsing a **digital apartheid**, where millions remain disconnected from the global conversation and its resources. In practical terms, this means countless African communities are sidelined from telehealth services, online microfinance opportunities, digital entrepreneurship, and e-learning platforms. The cost of maintaining this status quo is measured not just in lost economic potential—estimated to be in the **billions of dollars** according to the **World Economic Forum**—but also in lost human potential. This inequity is starkly visible in rural areas. According to **Freethink** and **Google’s African initiative** data, the vast majority of sub-Saharan Africa’s rural populations still struggle with inadequate connectivity infrastructure. Bridging this gap requires policy reforms, government investments, and private-sector collaboration—efforts that are already beginning to bear fruit in what Google calls **Africa’s “digital decade.”** ## Confronting Cynicism: What If Technology Were Taken Away? To those who sneer at the notion of African tech empowerment, let me pose a thought experiment: **What if technology were stripped from you?** Imagine your life without a smartphone to check the news, without the internet to apply for jobs, without the digital platforms that connect you to family, friends, or vital services. For most of us, losing that digital lifeline would be catastrophic—yet many Africans experience this exclusion daily. If technology were solely in the hands of those who genuinely understand its transformative power for the entire human family—rather than just for profit or entertainment—would our world be more just? I argue that it would. Because technology, when used equitably, can level playing fields, close gaps, and accelerate solutions to some of our most pressing challenges, from food insecurity to climate change. This scenario is a wake-up call: **digital access isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity**. If we continue to marginalize or mock large swaths of the globe for not being “plugged in,” we are actively stalling our collective progress. ## Laying the Foundations: Africa’s Digital Decade > “Africa stands at the brink of a digital revolution. If harnessed properly, it could transform the region’s economy and societies.” > — Dr. Vera Songwe, Former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa Google’s designation of the next ten years as Africa’s “digital decade” isn’t just a marketing slogan; it’s an acknowledgement of the continent’s vast potential. From **undersea cables** that deliver faster, more affordable internet to **tech hubs** popping up in Nairobi, Lagos, and Kigali, the groundwork is being laid for an African-led digital renaissance. These are not charity projects; they are strategic investments aimed at fueling a new wave of global technological growth. Significant efforts are already underway. According to **Freethink**, Google is teaming up with local startups, universities, and NGOs to provide AI-based education tools. In Kenya, for instance, the **Raspberry Pi Foundation** is implementing AI curricula designed to help students tackle local problems, such as sustainable agriculture or public health challenges. This shift from consumer to creator is pivotal. It ensures that African students are not mere end-users of technology but active shapers of the digital future. ## Overcoming Barriers: Infrastructure, Policy, and Education Still, challenges remain daunting. **Infrastructure**—from reliable electricity to affordable data—is often lacking. **Policy** frameworks need to incentivize universal internet access and protect the marginalized from predatory data pricing or digital monopolies. **Education** systems must be revamped to include digital literacy at all levels, ensuring that every African child grows up prepared for a tech-driven future. The good news is that many African governments, backed by international organizations like the **African Union** and various NGOs, are prioritizing digital policy. The African Union’s **Agenda 2063** envisions a prosperous continent nurtured by equitable growth. Technology is at the heart of this vision, emphasizing not just connectivity but also **tech entrepreneurship**, **skills development**, and **data governance**. ## The Moral Imperative: Build, Don’t Belittle > “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” > — Nelson Mandela At its core, bridging the digital divide is about **affirming the equal worth of all human beings**. It’s a moral imperative that transcends geography, ethnicity, and economic status. We must build, not belittle; include, not exclude. This isn’t about painting an idealistic portrait of Africa but about recognizing the continent’s legitimate place in shaping our collective digital destiny. The cynics who laugh at Africa’s digital aspirations reveal an unwillingness to confront the systemic barriers that uphold inequity. Their laughter is, in effect, an admission of complicity. Rather than mock, we should champion and invest in the young coders, engineers, and entrepreneurs who are already proving that African-led tech solutions can transform not just local communities, but the entire global village. ## Looking Ahead: A Shared Future > “You don’t have to be a billionaire to believe in technology’s power to improve lives. But if you don’t, you are underestimating the tools at our disposal.” > — Melinda Gates As we move deeper into the 21st century, the stakes have never been higher. Climate change, global health crises, and widening inequality demand innovative approaches that can only emerge when **all voices are heard**. Africa’s digital decade could very well become the global tech community’s next big frontier—if we choose to support it. By connecting the unconnected, we open doors to new discoveries, fresh talent, and solutions that could benefit everyone. **Freethink** encourages readers to track how technology shapes our future through their publication, **Future Explored**—and it’s a future we must shape collectively. The real punchline in this scenario is not that Africans dare to dream of full connectivity; it’s that anyone would doubt their right to do so. History will not remember the scoffers kindly. It will celebrate those who dared to act, who took a stand, and who invested in the most critical asset we have: human potential. **In closing, remember this:** the world doesn’t laugh at those who strive for equality; it laughs at those who resist it. The digital age is upon us, and no one is truly free or empowered until everyone is connected. Let this be our clarion call to grow up, to invest, and to ensure that technology remains a tool of liberation, not a gatekeeper of privilege. The future of our global community depends on it. ## **A Wake-Up Call for a Unified Future** As we stand on the threshold of a new era—a world of smart cities, regenerative medicine, and astonishing technological leaps—we must recognize that our collective pivot to a more advanced society has no room for prejudice or exclusion. It doesn’t matter how wealthy you are or how entrenched in privilege you’ve become; there is a grand system of accountability woven into the very fabric of this future, and it will not be deceived. Those who cling to antiquated notions of superiority will find themselves on the outside looking in, unable to cross the divide into a reality built on cooperation, empathy, and respect for all. Just as importantly, this great transition isn’t confined to the so-called elite. We are moving beyond the harsh confines of social Darwinism. You don’t need to be the most brilliant mind or have all the financial means to secure your place; you simply need to care about your fellow human beings and be open to adapting alongside new technologies and collaborative systems. Those who might feel marginalized today—due to poverty, background, or current lack of digital access—are not locked out. They, too, will receive their own “golden ticket” to the future, as innovation and investment increasingly aim to uplift every member of the human family. By 2030, the goal is a fully interconnected world where these very barriers become obsolete. This is both a wake-up call and a promise. A wake-up call for anyone who still harbors exclusionary beliefs, urging them to understand that such attitudes stand in direct opposition to the inclusive spirit of this emerging age. And a promise for those who feel left behind: systems are being designed to ensure you have a seat at the table, a chance to learn, to build, and to thrive. The countdown has begun, and we’re all invited to step forward—together—into a future that prizes unity above all else. ### References and Further Reading 1. **International Telecommunication Union (ITU)**. (2022). *Measuring Digital Development*. [Link](https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/stat/default.aspx) 2. **World Bank**. (2022). *Digital Development in Sub-Saharan Africa*. [Link](https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/digitaldevelopment) 3. Buolamwini, J. & Gebru, T. (2018). *Gender Shades: Intersectional Accuracy Disparities in Commercial Gender Classification*. Proceedings of Machine Learning Research. 4. **UNESCO**. (2020). *UNESCO’s Approach to Digital Literacy*. [Link](https://en.unesco.org/) 5. **Freethink**. (2023). *Africa’s Digital Decade: The new era of sub-Saharan connectivity.* [Link](https://www.freethink.com/the-digital-frontier/africa-digital-decade) 6. **Raspberry Pi Foundation**. (2021). *AI Education Initiatives in Africa*. [Link](https://www.raspberrypi.org/) 7. **African Union**. (2015). *Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want*. [Link](https://au.int/agenda2063/overview)

Bryant McGill · Bridging the Digital Divide in Africa