MTN Group Senior Vice President, Ebenezer Asante, has urged African graduates to become active creators of technology rather than passive users, warning that the continent risks lagging behind in global innovation.
Speaking at the 2025 graduation ceremony of Accra Technical University (ATU), themed “Emerging Technologies: How Prepared is the ATU Graduate?”, Mr. Asante called for stronger collaboration among universities, industry players and policymakers to boost research and invention capacity.
“The curious, tech-savvy graduate of the 21st century will not only use technology but will also shape it with foresight and a sense of shared human purpose,” he said.
Citing the World Intellectual Property Organization’s 2023 report, he noted that Africa’s contribution to global technology patent filings dropped from 4.4% a decade ago to 3.2% in 2023, even though the continent holds more than 18% of the world’s population. He described the figures as evidence of weak investment in innovation on the continent.
“If we are serious about using technology to address Africa’s complex developmental challenges, we must become part of the technology supply chain and the global ecosystem of invention,” he said.
Mr. Asante referenced futurist Alvin Toffler and academic Professor Akosua Ampofo to underline the need for graduates to continuously learn and adapt. He argued that technical knowledge alone is no longer sufficient, stressing the value of creativity, empathy and collaboration in driving 21st-century innovation.
“Do not fear the unknown. Be clear about what you possess that can make a difference and keep applying yourself until you achieve a breakthrough,” he told the graduating class. “Stubborn perseverance is what the world is waiting for from you.”
He pointed to technology’s potential to address challenges in sanitation, healthcare, agriculture, education and energy, citing The Buz Stop Boys’ sanitation advocacy work as an example of youth-led civic innovation. He challenged graduates to build solutions such as IoT-based waste systems, smart urban data tools, and robotics or drones for efficient waste collection.
Mr. Asante also noted the shifting global job landscape, saying digital tools now enable young people to work across borders without relocation. He encouraged graduates to explore freelancing, digital entrepreneurship and hybrid jobs supported by AI, cloud technology and digital payment systems like Mobile Money.
He concluded by urging graduates to support Ghana’s digitalization agenda and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which aim to build an innovative, inclusive and globally competitive Africa.
Source: kumasimail.com
