{
  "id": 18087847,
  "title": "Adesina proposes $10B AI fund to secure Africa’s technological sovereignty",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/adesina-proposes-10b-ai-fund-to-secure-africas-technological",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-11-04T05:22:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/adesina-proposes-10b-ai-fund-to-secure-africas-technological-sovereignty/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina urged Africa to take charge of its digital future by spearheading the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, rather than merely consuming foreign technologies. At the Oxford Global Think Tank's 2026 Leadership Conference in Abuja, Adesina unveiled a proposal for a $10 billion Africa AI Frontier Technology Fund, part of a broader $50 billion investment mobilization plan set to unfold over the next decade. He cautioned that the global AI race would determine future economic power and warned that Africa, projected to have a population of 2.5 billion by 2050, cannot afford to rely on external innovations. Adesina emphasized that Africa must view the AI revolution not as a passive follower but as a continent striving to lead in technological ownership. To make this vision a reality, he outlined a five-point strategic framework: securing economic value, investing in digital and energy infrastructure, transitioning from mere adoption to indigenous technology creation, pooling substantial institutional capital, and fostering political leadership—potentially through the appointment of dedicated AI ministers. Adesina advocated for a unified coalition comprising the World Bank, the African Development Bank, African governments, and private tech partners to achieve this goal. He highlighted the importance of transforming Africa's youthful demographic into a \"demographic asset class\" capable of inventing, commercializing, and exporting advanced technologies. This approach, he argued, would enable Africa to become an architect of the global AI economy rather than a passive observer. Earlier, Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, urged global leaders to harness AI and technical proficiency to convert national resources into shared prosperity. Tijani highlighted Nigeria's digital reforms, such as deploying 90,000 kilometers of open-access fiber optic cables, training three million technical talents, establishing the country's first government-backed Large Language Model, and launching a national AI strategy. These initiatives have positioned Nigeria as Africa's leader in responsible AI governance, and Tijani called on businesses, academia, and policymakers to collaborate in integrating emerging technologies into everyday life for citizens. The Oxford Global Think Tank, founded by Arunma Oteh, hosted the conference, bringing together African leaders and thought leaders to explore the leadership, institutional reforms, technological innovations, and investments necessary to translate Africa's immense potential into inclusive and sustainable prosperity.",
  "summary": "Former African Development Bank President Dr Akinwumi Adesina has urged Africa to seize control of its digital future by actively leading the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution rather than remaining a consumer of foreign technologies. Delivering a keynote address on Tuesday at the 2026 Leadership Conference hosted by the Oxford Global Think Tank in Abuja, Adesina […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}