Press Article: "AI as Africa’s Digital Catalyst: Insights from Lavina Ramkissoon at GITEX Africa"
At GITEX Africa, a leading tech fair held in Marrakech, Lavina Ramkissoon, 47, made waves as the African Union ambassador for technology across eastern, northern, and southern Africa. Her extensive network includes tech executives, visionaries, and designers focused on Africa’s digital future. With a background in computer science from South Africa and postgraduate degrees in business and artificial intelligence from Harvard, she advises 27 African nations on harnessing digital technology for transformative change.
Affectionately dubbed "Mama AI" by peers, Ramkissoon embraces this title, reflecting her commitment to promoting artificial intelligence (AI) in Africa. Her two daughters have already made strides in technology, coding since age eight and earning scholarships in quantum computing.
Ramkissoon advocates for AI as a vital tool for various sectors, notably agriculture and healthcare. She highlights initiatives like a young Ugandan who developed an AI app to optimize farming. In Zambia, efforts are underway to digitalize the health system, enhancing access to medical facilities.
Despite potential, African nations face structural challenges to fully leverage technology. Ramkissoon emphasizes that collaboration is essential to share resources effectively, particularly in addressing food security.
She also tackles the urgent gender disparity in tech, noting a significant gap in training opportunities for women compared to men. Encouragingly, she cites increasing female representation in political leadership as a positive trend for bridging this gap.
Ultimately, Ramkissoon believes that adopting AI must be balanced with human oversight, insisting that a thoughtful approach to technology can inspire hope for better future outcomes. As Africa navigates its digital transformation, she urges leaders to embrace innovation while remaining grounded in humanity’s enduring capacity for change.
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