Contextualise Solutions

Over the past few years, we have witnessed remarkable innovations in fields such as AI, AR, drones, and EVs, among others. For those of us on the African continent, a developing part of the world, we often find ourselves as recipients rather than creators of these technologies. This brings me to an important thought I’d like to share today.

These technologies clearly serve as solutions to problems we face as a global community. They challenge the status quo and enable us to envision a new future. However, we must exercise caution when applying these technologies across different nations. Solutions are crafted within specific contexts and scenarios where they have proven effective. When we adopt these solutions, as we frequently do, it is crucial to contextualize them to fully harness their potential. Failing to do so may not only prevent us from realizing their benefits but also risk exacerbating our existing problems, creating more issues than we solve.

Consider, for example, the solution of electric vehicles (EVs). While EVs are a sensible solution for combating climate change, their adoption poses significant challenges for many African countries due to electricity shortages. This does not mean we cannot have EVs on our streets; rather, it highlights the need to prioritize solving our energy crisis before considering widespread EV adoption. Developed nations have already overcome energy challenges and are less affected by electricity issues that developing countries face.

This principle applies to many other solutions as well. Adopting technologies using the developed world’s template often proves ineffective. To truly benefit from these innovations, we must contextualize solutions to suit our unique circumstances and needs.

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TKCNOTES

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