1 Department of Computer Science, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Nigeria.
2 Department of Computer Science Technology, Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu, Nigeria.
3 Department of Economics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
Review Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2021, 11(01), 022-028
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2021.11.1.0307
Received on 01 June 2021; revised on 04 July 2021; accepted on 08 July 2021
Recent advancements in Frontier Technologies and Innovations (FTI), including artificial intelligence, robotics, and biotechnology have shown significant and tremendous potentials for sustainable development globally. Despite this, Africa appears to be unprepared to equitably use or adopt these technological innovations. Evidence has shown that the ongoing global growth in FTI negatively impacts Africa with multifaceted inequalities ranging from poor global class, persistent poverty, disparities in income-earning opportunities, internet usage, pay gap, poor standards of education and health, etc., resulting majorly from poor adoption of technological innovations and favorable Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policies, culture, ethics, and values. Significant digital divides were evident between the technologically advanced countries and backward countries such as Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic because technological innovations have become critical tools for addressing the spread of the disease. This study highlights the strategy for coping with FTI for sustainable development in Africa. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) was adopted as the study conceptual framework. UTAUT model claims that users' acceptance behavior toward technology is determined by users' decision to use technology and the perceived benefits thereof. The researchers explored a narrative review, analysis, and synthesis of vast works of literature that revealed significant information on strategies for coping with FTI in Africa. The researchers also conjointly extracted peer-reviewed articles among the last five years from electronic databases, engaging some keywords like "Frontier Technologies and Innovations in Africa' 'Coping with Frontier Technologies and Innovations' leveraging resources of Africa via Technology and Innovation", etc. Results show that global progress was associated with sharper inequality between countries, with widening disparities in FTI adoption, literacy level, and access to products, social services such as ICT infrastructure, electrification, education, and health. Results also show that literacy empowerment in Africa especially among women, on technology adoption, policies, culture, ethics, and values may advance sustainable goals, leverage their literacy abilities for FTI adoption, and close widening gaps and inequalities in global FTI.
Frontier Technologies; Frontier Innovations; ICT innovations; Information Technology (IT) Adoption; IT policies; Ethics
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Felix Chukwuma Aguboshim, Ifeyinwa Nkemdilim Obiokafor and Irene Nkechi Onwuka. Strategies for coping with frontier technologies and innovations in Africa. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2021, 11(1), 022-028. Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2021.11.1.0307