A technology firm, Verraki Partners, has called on African businesses to transcend mere aspirations for Artificial Intelligence and adopt a structured methodology that emphasizes readiness, strategy, and long-term integration.
This appeal follows the firm’s release of the ‘AI Readiness Framework for African Businesses’, a detailed report evaluating the preparedness of organizations across the continent to embrace and leverage AI technology.
As stated in a press release by the firm on Friday, the report indicates that while 87 percent of African business leaders are confident in their readiness to implement AI, only 66 percent believe they will achieve mature or advanced readiness levels by 2027.
“AI will not replace people. However, individuals who utilize AI will replace those who do not. Companies that reject AI will lag behind those that leverage it to foster growth and efficiency. The future is reserved for those who are prepared to learn swiftly, adapt courageously, and act intentionally with AI as a co-pilot,” remarked Olatunde Olajide, a Partner in Technology Advisory at Verraki.
The findings reveal that sectors such as technology, financial services, and telecommunications are currently the most prepared for AI in Nigeria. Nevertheless, over 55 percent of respondents identified policy and regulatory obstacles as significant challenges hindering progress.
Verraki emphasized that AI readiness encompasses much more than technical capabilities. It requires a combination of strategy, operational models, digital infrastructure, executive backing, workforce literacy, and data governance.
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The absence of any of these components, it cautioned, could result in stalled or unsuccessful AI implementations. The framework advocates for a phased approach to adoption, urging organizations to start with low-risk, high-impact use cases. It also highlights the necessity for ethical governance and collaboration between the public and private sectors to responsibly scale AI innovation.
The report cautioned that numerous African businesses risk squandering resources on ineffective AI initiatives due to inadequate planning and insufficient data capabilities.
