Unlocking Africa’s Potentials: DELSU’s Professor Jonathan Tsetimi Charts A Digital-Technologies-Powered Path To Closing Data Gaps At Landmark IAO Summit

NAIROBI, KENYA – [June 25, 2025] – In a truly galvanizing and profoundly insightful presentation, Professor Jonathan Tsetimi, the esteemed Vice President, South-South of the National Association of AI Practitioners, ignited a powerful vision for Africa’s future at the Information Africa Organization’s (IAO) pivotal e-workshop on “Research for Development (R4D) in Africa.”

His keynote presentation, “Closing Data Gaps through Digital Technologies,” stood out as a beacon of hope, resonating deeply with a diverse assembly of leaders, innovators, and policymakers from across the continent and beyond. Professor Tsetimi not only highlighted Africa’s formidable data challenges but also unveiled a compelling, actionable blueprint for leveraging digital innovation to unlock the continent’s immense, untapped potentials.
The virtual summit, a critical convergence point for thought leaders, centered on vital sub-themes indispensable for Africa’s progress, ranging from managing R4D for quality livelihoods to sharing groundbreaking research. Professor Tsetimi’s session, strategically positioned at the heart of the day’s agenda, underscored with compelling urgency the foundational role of robust data ecosystems in driving sustainable development and ensuring a better quality of life for all citizens.
Professor Tsetimi, a distinguished academic from Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria, masterfully articulated how pervasive and persistent data deficiencies currently impede effective governance, lead to misallocation of crucial resources, and stifle socio-economic growth across various sectors in Africa. With a captivating blend of expertise and passion, he emphasized that while these challenges are undeniable, Africa stands at an unprecedented inflection point, poised for a digital revolution that, if strategically and ethically harnessed, can decisively bridge these very divides.

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Professor Tsetimi asserted with conviction that they weren’t just discussing technology but transformation itself, his words resonating across the virtual platform. He emphasized that the digital age offers Africa an unparalleled chance to leapfrog centuries of development hurdles. However, he stressed, this leap demands more than just infrastructure; it requires a deliberate, collective commitment to cultivate a vibrant, data-rich environment. In this environment, he explained, information must flow freely, reliably, securely, and ethically. He concluded that Africa’s collective prosperity, indeed the very future of the continent, hinges on its ingenuity and resolve to transform raw data into precise, actionable insights that drive real change.

A Blueprint Closing data Gaps in African: Actionable Recommendations for a Data-Empowered Africa:
Professor Tsetimi then meticulously presented a series of comprehensive and actionable recommendations, imploring every stakeholder to embrace their pivotal role in this transformative journey:
For All Stakeholders – Forging a Foundation of Unwavering Collaboration and Indispensable Skills:
• Foster Unwavering Collaboration: This is not a task for individual silos. Data gaps are too vast and complex for any single entity to tackle in isolation. Professor Tsetimi urged for symbiotic partnerships between governments, the dynamic private sector, the insightful academia, vibrant civil society organizations, and influential international partners. Such a unified front will facilitate seamless data sharing, strategic resource pooling, and the co-creation of integrated, impactful solutions.
• Invest Systematically in Digital Literacy and Skills: A truly digitally empowered Africa necessitates digitally literate and skilled citizens. He stressed the imperative to prioritize comprehensive and accessible training programs that encompass not only foundational digital literacy but also advanced data analysis, critical cybersecurity skills, and the ethical use of AI. A significant emphasis must be placed on empowering women, youth, and communities in remote and rural areas, ensuring no one is left behind in the digital economy.
• Prioritize Foundational Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): Robust digital transformation cannot occur without a resilient backbone. Governments and their partners must commit to substantial investment in universal, affordable, and highly reliable internet connectivity, extending to even the most underserved rural areas. This includes the development of secure, interoperable digital identity systems and seamless digital payment platforms, which form the bedrock for countless digital services.
• Promote Data Localization and African-Owned Solutions: To ensure true data sovereignty and contextual relevance, Professor Tsetimi advocated for actively encouraging the development and widespread adoption of data storage solutions and digital tools that are not only meticulously tailored to African contexts but are also genuinely controlled and managed by African entities. This builds trust and ensures solutions meet specific local needs.
• Embrace Ethical Data Governance and Privacy: Trust is the paramount currency in the digital realm. It is imperative to establish and rigorously enforce clear, transparent regulatory frameworks for data collection, storage, and utilization. These frameworks must unequivocally prioritize data privacy, robust security measures, and stringent ethical considerations to foster widespread citizen participation and unwavering confidence in digital initiatives.
For African Governments – Masterfully Setting the Policy and Infrastructure Stage
• Craft Comprehensive National Data Strategies: Governments must develop visionary, forward-looking national data strategies. These strategies should meticulously pinpoint specific data deficits across all sectors, set clear, measurable targets for data collection and utilization, and outline supportive, enabling policies for comprehensive digital transformation.
• Catalyze Broadband Infrastructure Investment: It is critical to drive both public and private investment into dramatically expanding affordable and reliable broadband access. This must aggressively target underserved rural and remote areas, exploring innovative solutions like satellite internet, community-led networks, and public-private partnerships to bridge the connectivity divide.
• Roll Out Inclusive Digital ID Systems: The implementation of secure, accessible, and interoperable digital identity systems (e.g., e-ID cards, digital birth registration) is a non-negotiable foundational layer. These systems are crucial not only for citizens to access essential public services but also for generating accurate and comprehensive demographic and administrative data vital for planning.
• Empower National Statistical Offices (NSOs): A significant injection of funding, robust capacity-building programs, and provision of cutting-edge technological resources are essential to enhance NSOs’ ability to collect, analyze, and disseminate high-quality, timely data. Promoting the advanced adoption of big data analytics and artificial intelligence within these critical institutions will elevate their impact.
• Champion Open Data Initiatives: Governments must proactively enact and enforce progressive open data policies, ensuring that public data is readily accessible and usable by all. This fosters unprecedented transparency, strengthens accountability, and cultivates a vibrant ecosystem of innovation, where data can be leveraged for public good.
• Incentivize Private Sector Engagement: Create an unequivocally favorable and predictable regulatory environment. Offer attractive incentives, such as targeted tax breaks, grants, and streamlined processes, to enthusiastically encourage private companies to invest substantially in digital infrastructure and to develop innovative, data-driven solutions tailored for Africa.

• Digitize Public Services Systematically: Accelerate the comprehensive digitalization of all government services, including e-health, e-education, e-governance, and e-agriculture. This will dramatically improve efficiency, reduce opportunities for corruption, enhance service delivery, and generate invaluable administrative data for evidence-based policy formulation.

In essence, Professor Tsetimi’s compelling presentation at the IAO Summit served as a clarion call for a concerted, digitally-driven effort to bridge Africa’s persistent data deficits. His forward-thinking approach, rooted in the strategic deployment of advanced technologies, offers a pragmatic and powerful blueprint for unlocking the continent’s inherent strengths. By leveraging these tools, Africa can move beyond merely observing its developmental challenges to actively addressing them with precision and impact. The Professor’s insights underscore the critical role of data in fostering evidence-based policy-making and ultimately, sustainable growth across diverse sectors.

The enthusiasm and engagement from summit attendees highlight a shared recognition of the urgency and potential of Professor Tsetimi’s vision. His articulation of a path forward resonated deeply, sparking important dialogues on actionable strategies and collaborative initiatives. This collective eagerness to embrace innovation and data-centric solutions signals a pivotal moment for Africa’s digital transformation journey. It suggests a growing commitment among stakeholders to invest in the infrastructure and human capital necessary to realize the continent’s full potential.

Ultimately, Professor Tsetimi’s contributions at the IAO Summit have laid significant groundwork for a future where Africa’s development is propelled by robust and reliable data. His expertise, championed by DELSU, has not only illuminated a clear path to closing data gaps but has also galvanized a collaborative spirit essential for its implementation. As the continent continues its trajectory towards greater self-reliance and prosperity, the principles and methodologies he championed will undoubtedly serve as guiding pillars, ensuring that Africa’s progress is both informed and impactful.

Paving the Way for a Data-Driven Future
Ultimately, Professor Tsetimi’s contributions at the IAO Summit didn’t just highlight a problem; they ignited a spark, illuminating a clear, digitally-powered path for Africa to overcome its data deficits. His expertise, proudly championed by DELSU, didn’t just offer solutions; it galvanized a collaborative spirit, showcasing that with the right vision and a united front, Africa can truly harness its immense potential. As the continent continues its inspiring journey towards greater self-reliance and prosperity, the innovative principles and methodologies he championed are set to become guiding stars, ensuring that Africa’s progress is not just informed, but profoundly impactful and strategically sound.

Professor Tsetimi’s presentation at the IAO e-workshop was more than just an academic discourse; it was a clarion call to action, emphasizing that a truly digitally transformed Africa – one where data informs every critical decision, where innovation flourishes, and where prosperity is widely shared – is not a distant aspiration but an achievable reality. His comprehensive recommendations provide a robust and actionable framework for all stakeholders to collaborate effectively and accelerate the continent’s monumental journey towards a data-empowered and ultimately, a more prosperous and equitable future. The Information Africa Organization’s e-workshop continues to provide a vital and indispensable platform for these crucial conversations, unequivocally reinforcing Africa’s unwavering commitment to leveraging research and innovation for holistic and sustainable development.