Renowned business magnate and innovation advocate Lord Ibrahim Sani has called on African entrepreneurs to embrace and integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their businesses to remain globally competitive and future-ready.
According to him, AI is no longer a futuristic concept but a current driver of transformation across sectors. He urged young innovators, startups, and traditional business leaders to invest in AI literacy and implementation, warning that failure to do so could leave many African enterprises behind.
“AI is not coming; it’s already here, and those who ignore it will be left out of the global economy,” Lord Sani stated.
“Africa’s entrepreneurs must not only catch up; we must lead where we can.”
The Ghanaian-born investor, who has mentored over 500 entrepreneurs across the continent, described AI as a powerful tool to solve African problems, from agriculture and healthcare to logistics and education. He noted that while access to capital remains a hurdle, knowledge and readiness are the first steps toward long-term success.
He also pointed to the rise of AI-powered platforms in fintech, agritech, and edtech that are already making significant impacts in Africa. “This is not just about building apps. It’s about creating intelligent systems that can predict drought, personalise learning, and manage supply chains in real time,” he added.
Lord Sani further called for stronger collaborations between governments, academic institutions, and the private sector to build an AI-ready workforce and create supportive policies for tech startups.
In a message to policymakers, he remarked,
“It’s time for Africa to move beyond being a consumer of technology to becoming a creator of it. Let’s equip our youth, protect our data, and lead responsibly.”
