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Africa risks becoming a passive consumer of artificial intelligence unless it takes a more active role in building the technology, owning intellectual property and influencing the rules that will govern its use, according to data and AI leader Abel Aboh.
Aboh, in an opinion article published by Nairametrics, argues that the rapid development of artificial intelligence represents a defining technological shift comparable with earlier general-purpose technologies such as steam power, electricity and the internet.
For Africa, he says, the critical issue is no longer whether AI will transform the continent, but whether African countries, companies, researchers and institutions will participate in shaping that transformation.
The warning comes as AI becomes increasingly embedded in sectors ranging from finance and healthcare to education, agriculture, government and defence.
Africa Provides the Market, But Owns Less of the Infrastructure
Aboh argues that Africa already makes significant contributions to the global digital economy through its population, data, talent, languages, cultural knowledge and rapidly expanding technology markets.
However, much of the infrastructure and intellectual property required to convert those resources into large-scale economic value remains controlled outside the continent.
From smartphones and digital payments to search engines and AI applications, Africans increasingly participate in technology ecosystems whose underlying platforms are largely owned by foreign companies.
This creates what Aboh describes as a new form of “taxation” in the digital economy—not taxation in the traditional financial sense, but the transfer of value through data, markets, talent and ideas without a corresponding level of ownership or influence.
The central question, therefore, is whether Africa has sufficient representation in the institutions and companies determining the direction of the AI economy.
Uber Exit Highlights the Ownership Question
The recent decision by Uber to discontinue its ride-hailing operations in Nigeria and Uganda is cited as an example of the limitations that come with relying heavily on foreign technology platforms.
Uber operated in Nigeria for 12 years and in Uganda for about a decade before announcing its withdrawal from both markets as part of a review of its business priorities and investment strategy.
Although the company said the decision did not amount to a retreat from Africa, Aboh argues that the episode illustrates a broader reality: a market can become heavily dependent on a technology platform without having any control over the strategic decisions determining whether that platform remains available.
For Africa, he says, adoption should not be confused with ownership or influence.
The concern becomes even more significant as AI systems gain greater influence over essential economic and social activities.
Who Builds AI Will Influence What AI Becomes
Aboh says meaningful representation in the AI era should go beyond African governments participating in international conferences.
He identifies several areas where Africa needs greater influence, including international AI governance, technical standards, intellectual property, frontier research and the development of foundation models.
He also highlights the importance of Africans being represented within the research organisations building advanced AI systems.
Companies and research organisations such as Google Research, OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepSeek, xAI, Meta and Microsoft are among the institutions developing frontier AI technologies, yet Aboh argues that African researchers, engineers and scientists remain underrepresented relative to the continent’s population and potential contribution.
The issue, he says, extends beyond diversity.
Who participates in building AI can influence which problems receive research attention, what datasets are prioritised, which risks are identified and how different cultures and communities are represented in emerging systems.
Waiting Could Create Strategic Dependency
The article warns that countries that fail to develop technological capabilities around AI could find themselves dependent on foreign systems for critical functions.
Previous technological revolutions created significant economic advantages for countries that developed the capacity to manufacture, innovate and commercialise new technologies.
Aboh argues that AI could produce a similar redistribution of economic power.
If African countries postpone major investments in research, computing infrastructure, skilled talent and intellectual property until AI is already mature, they could end up spending decades purchasing advanced intelligence rather than developing it domestically.
That would leave the continent vulnerable to a form of technological dependency with economic and geopolitical consequences.
Africa Has Unique AI Opportunities
Despite the challenges, Aboh argues that Africa has several advantages that could support the development of globally relevant AI technologies.
The continent has a young population, expanding digital markets, a growing technology ecosystem and complex development challenges that can serve as real-world testing grounds for innovation.
Rather than attempting to replicate Silicon Valley, African innovators could develop systems designed around local realities and subsequently scale successful solutions internationally.
Potential applications include AI systems capable of better understanding African languages, improving agricultural productivity, expanding healthcare access, strengthening financial inclusion, modernising public services and supporting government decision-making.
AI could also be used to preserve indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage.
However, the author cautions that having opportunities to deploy AI does not automatically translate into ownership of the resulting economic value.
Governments, Universities and Businesses Have Roles to Play
Aboh calls for a coordinated strategy to move Africa from being predominantly an AI consumer to becoming a contributor and creator.
Governments, he argues, should treat AI as strategic infrastructure and establish policies that support research, innovation and responsible deployment.
Universities need to develop advanced AI researchers while also strengthening expertise in areas such as ethics, law, economics, science and public policy.
Businesses should move beyond simply purchasing AI products and begin developing proprietary technologies and intellectual property.
Investors, meanwhile, need to provide patient capital to African AI companies and research institutions, particularly given the long development cycles associated with frontier technology.
African countries could also collaborate on computing infrastructure, trusted data ecosystems, cybersecurity and common AI governance frameworks.
Building Technological Sovereignty Without Isolation
The push for greater African ownership of AI does not mean cutting the continent off from global technology companies or international investment.
Instead, Aboh advocates partnerships that allow African countries and institutions to participate as co-creators rather than remaining permanently dependent on external technology providers.
That means attracting foreign capital and expertise while simultaneously building local research capacity, intellectual property and institutions capable of competing globally.
The objective is to shift Africa’s position from simply being a market for technology companies to becoming a strategic partner in technological development.
“No AI Without Representation”
Aboh frames the challenge around a modern adaptation of the historic political principle, “no taxation without representation.”
His proposed equivalent for the AI era is “No AI without representation.”
The argument is that if Africa contributes its people, data, talent, creativity and markets to the emerging AI economy, it should also have a meaningful role in determining how AI is developed, governed and commercialised.
For the continent, the stakes extend beyond access to increasingly powerful AI applications.
They include ownership of intellectual property, participation in global AI governance, development of local research capabilities and the ability to capture a greater share of the economic value created by the technology.
Aboh’s broader warning is that Africa still has an opportunity to influence the AI revolution, but that opportunity will narrow if investment and participation are delayed.
The coming years, therefore, could determine whether Africa enters the AI era primarily as a customer of technologies built elsewhere or as one of the regions helping to design, own and shape the systems that will influence the global economy.
