- The African Union appointed Professor Isa Ali Pantami as Co-Chairman of the African Scientific Research and Innovation Council to promote Africa’s Fourth Industrial Revolution
- Pantami, known for advancing Nigeria’s digital economy, will collaborate with experts to drive technological innovation and sustainable development across the continent
The African Union (AU) has appointed Professor Isa Ali Pantami, a former Nigerian Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, as Co-Chairman of the African Scientific Research and Innovation Council (AU-ASRIC). In this new role, Pantami will help shape the policy and strategy for Africa’s Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), which will impact all 54 countries on the continent.
Professor Pantami is well-known for his contributions to advancing the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Nigeria. As the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), he established the National Centre of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR). During his tenure as Minister of Communications, he also played a key role in developing Nigeria’s first Digital Economy Policy, which emphasized Digital Society and Emerging Technologies.
Pantami is the first African to be named a Fellow by the Chartered Institute of Information Security in the United Kingdom, highlighting his significant contributions to the field.
Professor Anicia Nicola Peter from Namibia, an expert in Human-Computer Interaction, Social Media, Gamification, and other emerging technologies, will join Pantami as co-chair. She has extensive experience, having led Namibia’s 4IR Presidential Task Force and currently serves as an adjunct Research Professor at the University of Namibia.
The council comprises renowned experts, including Professor Khaleed Ghedira from Tunisia, Professor Maha Grima from Morocco, and other distinguished scholars and policymakers. Their combined efforts will drive the continent’s adoption of innovative technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity.
With this diverse team, the AU-ASRIC aims to foster scientific research and technological innovation across Africa, paving the way for sustainable development and economic growth.