Pantami Appointed Co-Chair of AU's Innovation Council to Drive Africa's Tech Revolution

The former Nigerian Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Patami has been appointed as the Co-chairman of the African Scientific Research and Innovation Council (AU-ASRIC) by the African Union. This significant appointment was announced on September 24th, 2024.

In his new role, Pantami is expected to play a crucial part in shaping the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) Policy and Strategy for all 54 African countries. The framework aims to accelerate the continent's adoption of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity.

Pantami, a prominent advocate for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, previously established Nigeria's National Centre of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics and formulated the country's first Digital Economy Policy. His efforts have been instrumental in fostering a digital society and promoting emerging technologies in Nigeria.

Notably, Pantami has achieved recognition as the first African to be appointed a Fellow by the Chartered Institute of Information Security in the United Kingdom. This accolade underscores his significant contributions to the field of information security.

Joining him as co-chair is Professor Anicia Nicola Peter from Namibia, a respected researcher specializing in human-computer interaction, social media, and gamification. Professor Peter has previously led Namibia’s 4IR Presidential Task Force and is an adjunct Research Professor at the University of Namibia.

The council also includes distinguished experts such as Professor Khaleed Ghedira from Tunisia and Professor Maha Grima from Morocco. Their collaborative efforts are poised to drive Africa's technological innovation and digital transformation.

In a statement, Pantami expressed his enthusiasm for the new role: "I am honored to be part of this pivotal initiative that will shape the future of technology across Africa. Together with my esteemed colleagues, we aim to create a robust framework that will propel the continent into the forefront of the Fourth Industrial Revolution."