Offa.
Dr. Segun Popool of Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK (MMU),says Africa, with a population of 1.2 billion,
faces significant connectivity challenges.
The don,who stated this at an AI training, research, and capacity development initiative, organised by Summit University, Offa (SUN, Offa), in Kwara State, According to him, said while mobile network coverage exceeds 99% in urban areas and approximately 89% in rural areas, the rural-urban gap in Africa was more pronounced, compared to the EU.
“Shockingly, only about 22% of the rural population in Africa has access to 4G networks, compared to 77% in urban areas. Equally concerning is the fact that, just 6% of rural residents and 28% of urban residents have Internet access at home, according to the latest ITU statistics,” he lamented.
The distinguished Artificial Intelligence,IA and Cybersecurity expert,therefore, urged the continent to prepare for opportunities that would enable it solve the challenges rather than waiting for them, through the establishment of “Ultra Wide-Area IoT Networks.”
The IA expert added,” In light of these disparities, the primary objective of the REMARKABLE project is to “Connect the Unconnected”
Dr. Popoola,who provided a comprehensive overview of the project’s objectives, added that its primary focus was to bridge the urban-rural digital divide and driving digital transformation in rural regions, with a particular emphasis on the African continent.
A statement from the office of the Vice Chancellor of the university in Offa indicates that the programme, titled, “Rural Environmental Monitoring via Ultra Wide-ARea NetworKs And DistriButed Federated LEarning (REMARKABLE),” was part of a staff exchange project funded by the European Union,
The don, who also shared insights into his personal journey in the AI field, encouraged participants to consider how their current pursuits could shape their future ambitions.
He emphasized the value of research groups and highlighted opportunities for participants to contribute to economic development for them to excel in their endeavors.
Dr. Popoola also provided valuable guidance on securing fully-funded master’s and PhD scholarships and building professional networks within the field.
He delved into AI concepts, including Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Supervised and Unsupervised Learning, offering participants a deeper understanding of these topics.
Our correspondent gathered that beyond theory, participants engaged in hands-on Python programming, using Spyder, gaining practical experience during one of the sessions during Dr. Popoola encouraged them to apply their newfound knowledge to real-world projects and solve societal problems.
The participants expressed gratitude for the opportunity to actively learn about AI, particularly through the Deep Learning hands-on training for the REMARKABLE project.
The participants expressed eagerness to apply the acquired skills to address real-world challenges in reducing the digital divide between urban and rural communities and the nation as a whole.
Edited by Dada Ahmed .
