Africa needs an estimated USD 130–170 billion annually to close its infrastructure gap. Yet deeper challenges lie in the misalignment of policy and realities. My research aims to provide a solution by somewhat disregarding the deficit and focuses on accreditation of existing competencies, starting in the creative industry.

Much of the efforts to alleviate this deficit focus heavily on what Africa lacks, thus, Africa is perpetually in pursuit of externally defined models that official aid development assistance cannot sustain. Colonisation was one of the greatest tragedies in human history as it annihilated alternate paths of development as it dismissed indigenous practices as 'barbaric' and continues to shape the perception of African value.

As we move towards the digital age, Africa lacks the infrastructure to truly participate and will find itself chasing another fantasy. I do not see the digital age as something we should be racing towards. My time in the West taught me community and companionship are traded for convenience and comfort. The psychological battles I fought are not worth that trade off.

What Africa lacks in infrastructure, it makes up in strong community-rooted practices. Mobile money was a result of such practices. African competencies continue to be dismissed due to the informality of local systems. If innovative skills and knowledge can be acknowledged, formalised and accredited, Africa can provide the solution to many concerns about the digital age.

According to a report by the World Bank, only 50 percent of countries in Africa have ‘computer’ skills as part of their school curriculum, compared to 85 percent of countries globally. However, when facing a lack of reading and access to education - a survey of 22 SSA countries shows that in 2010, in some countries, the textbook: pupil ratio was 1:11 for reading and 1:13 for math - one can wonder where efforts go when literacy is on the decline.

Throughout most of my teenage years and early 20s, I spent my time watching every new movie and every new post, I would not call myself much of reader. The facilities were always there I just never cared for them. When I started reading, I grew curious, I started to ponder and I started to act. Back home, they say if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.

Imagine making it at home. Imagine creating value for your community.

Join us on this journey, tune in and together, let us see how this experiment turns out.

Believe it, then, See it.