Nigeria risks falling behind unless it adopts artificial intelligence and technological advancements, warns Sowore

Nigeria must swiftly capitalize on the opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, according to Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress's presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, who warns that the country cannot afford to miss another wave of global technological transformation.

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The Fourth Industrial Revolution entails the convergence of digital, biological, and physical technologies, with innovations such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, advanced robotics, and quantum computing transforming industries, labour markets, and economies worldwide.

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Sowore emphasized, in a statement posted on his official X account on Sunday, that Nigeria's failure to leverage previous industrial revolutions has resulted in the country being technologically dependent on innovations developed by other nations.

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Sowore has been a consistent advocate for governance reforms, youth empowerment, and increased investment in education, science, and technology, arguing that these sectors are crucial to Nigeria's long-term economic growth and sustainable development.

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The activist and former presidential candidate believes that the ongoing technological revolution, driven by artificial intelligence, robotics, and other emerging technologies, presents Nigeria with another opportunity to reposition its economy and accelerate development.

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Sowore noted that the world has undergone four distinct industrial revolutions that have transformed economies, societies, and the way human beings live and work, with each revolution introducing new technologies, including mechanisation, mass production, automation, and artificial intelligence.

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He stated that the First Industrial Revolution introduced mechanisation powered by water and steam, the Second ushered in mass production driven by electricity, and the Third brought automation through digital technology.

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Today, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is redefining the future through artificial intelligence, robotics, blockchain, biotechnology, quantum computing, and cyber-physical systems, according to Sowore.

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Sowore attributed Nigeria's failure to benefit from earlier industrial revolutions to decades of poor leadership, weak governance, and inadequate investment in education, innovation, and technology.

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He explained that Nigeria missed the opportunities presented by the first three industrial revolutions, largely due to decades of poor leadership, poor governance, and a failure to invest in innovation, education, and technological development.

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As a result, the nation has remained largely dependent on consuming technologies developed elsewhere instead of creating them, Sowore said.

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He stressed that the country must avoid repeating the same mistakes by prioritising science, technology, and innovation to leap forward rather than fall further behind.

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Sowore emphasized that achieving this requires replacing incompetence, corruption, and recycled politics with visionary leadership that prioritises science, technology, innovation, and human capital development.

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The activist declared that embracing the ongoing technological revolution is essential to Nigeria's future, stating that the country cannot afford to miss this revolution and that its future depends on embracing it.