By Emeka Aginam, in Barcelona, Spain
Former South African President, Thabo Mbeki has urged African governments to invest more in Information Technology Infrastructure to resolve toughest problems like health, governance, education, traffic,  among others currently facing the continent.

This is even as the   GSM Association (GSMA)  has estimated  that there are more than half a billion mobile connections on the African continent.

Thabo Mbeki

Mbeki who spoke at the Ericsson African Night held  along side with the  ongoing 2015 Mobile World Congress holding in Barcelona, Spain said that increased use of mobile technology has already benefited several sectors  in the continent especially education and health.

The former South African President also highlighted on the African Renaissance concept on how best African people and nations shall overcome the current challenges confronting the continent and achieve cultural, scientific, and economic renewal.

He told the gathering comprising of  telecoms operators,  African leaders in the ICT ecosystem,  including Airtel, MTN, Unitel and Millicom and international Technology Reporters that Africa must leverage on ICT tools  to face the challenge of the 21st century and attain digital economy.

Apart from foreign interventions, Mbeki was optimism that use of mobile can a long way in resolving current issues facing the continent.

Acknowledging that weak IT infrastructure remains a challenge, he said that “Africa has come a long way. We cannot continue like this. Mobile technology has enormous impact in our lives. We must invest in it. We must embrace it more.  Mobile technology has intervened and is an important enabler to help  the continent  respond to local challenges like health, education, traffic, agriculture, among others”, he explained.

He said that use of mobile technologies can help Africa achieve financial inclusion  and also help rural farmers to check weather condition and cost of farm products.

The African night was hosted by Ericsson with the focus on the development of the telecoms industry in Africa.

It also focused on on how mobile broadband is changing people’s lives through inclusion and empowerment.

Guests at the  African Night’s guest included ,  Andrew Rugege, Regional Director for Africa, International Telecommunication Union (ITU); Arthur Bastings, Executive VP Africa of Millicom; Tony Dolton, CEO, Unitel; Christian De Faria, CEO, Airtel Africa and Karel Pienaar, Group Chief Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions Officer, MTN Group, among others.