BY Emma Elebeke & Ruth  Odiniya

Kenyan ICT guru and digital strategist, Mark Kaigwa says the introduction of mobile phone into Africa has ushered in a silent revolution that will transform the continent and make it globally competitive.

He said that while governments in various African countries  now implement high-level visibility ICT strategies, experts have recently identified far more radical, hidden changes occurring across the Continent, capable of launching Africa into a position of global competitiveness.

Mark Kaigwa, who is expected to deliver a keynote address at the 8th e-learning Africa later this month, explained that the situation of wide penetration of mobile phone in Kenya is organic and initiated by the community and on the fringes.

‘’This is what’s really going to transform our country and the rest of the East African region, and  the whole Continent.

‘‘New technologies, when adopted, are adapted to local needs: a sort of under-the-radar innovation which is now pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

‘‘Across the Continent, people are coming up with varied and innovative solutions. To a Kenyan, a mobile could be a portable bank machine, an efficient way to pay bills, take taxis or eat out, using the m-Pesa banking system.

‘‘To a South African, the same device is a social networking tool, allowing free instant messaging, connections to chat rooms and file transfers – they are used.  A tablet on a farm allows instant access to markets, agricultural advice and weather warnings; in a school, it is a cheap, scalable replacement for the traditional textbook.

‘‘With all this and more going on, it is no wonder that the eyes of the world are on Africa, eager to find out what successful local solutions could be transplanted elsewhere.

Another speaker expected at the plenary sessions of  the 8th eLearning Africa conference will be Prof Sugata Mitra of Newcastle University, who is expected to offer insight into the similarities and differences between Indian and African innovations.

During the conference there will also be chances to learn about how community radio and broadcast television have collaborated to bring education to rural Zambia, and about how farmers in Ghana became hooked on the mobile phone. The conference will be taking place in Windhoek, Namibia, from 29th-31st of May.