Prominent business leaders from across Africa have called for a renewed focus on homegrown innovation as a cornerstone for sustainable economic growth and competitiveness on the global stage.
Speaking at the Africa Business Innovation Forum held in Addis Ababa, executives from sectors including technology, agriculture, finance, and manufacturing emphasized the urgent need to move away from dependency on imported solutions and instead invest in African-driven research, development, and entrepreneurship.
“Africa’s development must be rooted in African solutions,” said Dr. Yemi Bamidele, CEO of GreenTech Africa. “We can no longer afford to import ideas and technology that don’t align with our realities. Innovation must be designed by Africans, for Africans.”
The forum highlighted success stories from startups and enterprises across Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa, showcasing innovations in fintech, agri-tech, and clean energy. Participants stressed that with Africa’s youthful population and expanding digital infrastructure, the continent is uniquely positioned to leapfrog legacy systems through scalable, local innovations.
Ngozi Makoma, a leading South African venture capitalist, added, “We must empower our innovators with funding, favorable policies, and access to regional markets. That is the only way Africa can fully unlock its potential.”
The summit concluded with a joint declaration urging African governments to increase investment in education, infrastructure, and intellectual property protection to support a thriving innovation ecosystem.
Analysts say the call reflects a broader shift in thinking among African business leaders—one that prioritizes indigenous knowledge and context-specific solutions as the pathway to inclusive and resilient growth across the continent.
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