By Princewill Ekwujuru

lagos—The  sixth edition of the annual  Innovention series,  organised by the Verdant Zeal Group,  titled:  How  Technology is driving Africa’s New Narrative, has set an agenda for African leaders towards the growth of the continent.

Speaking, Joel Chimhanda, who was the Keynote speaker and Founder of JC Capital, South Africa, at the event said  unless and until Africa begins to do things their own way, development and  growth will remain elusive  to the  continent.

“Africa can only grow when African major leaders sit in a room to discuss a new way forward for the continent based on the opportunities technology is offering.

He said African nations, spear-headed by Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya  should tap into the opportunity provided by technology  through some of the Telecom companies, and the rich Africans  who are  trail blazers in different  fields  of the economy.

Chimhanda, who pointed out that Africa cannot compete globally without taking  technology into consideration, stated that it is imperative that African businessmen and leaders   create a cluster where young Africans can be gathered and trained on how to key into the new order provided by technology.

This cluster he said will enable young Africans garner the requisite skill required to lift themselves  and Africa out of poverty level ,thus  cutting off the shackles of neocolonialism, which is  having adverse affect on  the continent.

On the other hand, he berated the media for not looking at critical issues affecting the continent which bother on corruption.

On his part Dr. Tunji Olugbodi, Executive Vice Chairman, Verdant Zeal Group, said that internet penetration in Africa has been gathering momentum over the last half-decade as we seek to close gap on Information Communication Technology, ICT, with western climes and with  these trends, Nigeria leads the continent and is expected to be among the top 10 internet using countries in the world by 2018.

According to him, the innovention series is an attempt to provide pragmatic ways of helping Africa’s young, yet vulnerable population, gain the requisite skills to lift themselves out of poverty and participate in the global economy now dictated by technology.