The annual event, 2023 Yabacon Meet, organized by Yabacon, a community comprising individuals, communities, and organizations within Africa’s technology ecosystem, successfully took place at Community By Dukka, 42 Saka Tinubu, Victoria Island, Lagos.
This event served as a testament to the resilience and commitment of Africa’s thriving tech community, drawing an impressive turnout of around 200 enthusiastic tech enthusiasts with sponsorships from Infobip, Wema Bank, Credit Direct by FCMB, Boundless Pay, Homemade, Codessy Technologies, Ogaranya, WorkCentral Nigeria, Yep! and RESE.
The event aimed to foster knowledge exchange, innovation, and meaningful discussions among technology enthusiasts and experts. Its primary objective was to promote the global expansion of Yaba’s innovation culture and inspire Africans to develop solutions for global challenges.
Jesse Essang, CEO of Codessy Technologies and Founder of Yabacon, also announced Discord as the new platform for the Yabacon community, encouraging all participants to engage in continuous dialogue and collaborative efforts.
Takeaway from the 2023 Yabacon Meet panel discussion
“The Agora,” a panel discussion on “Leveraging AI for Business Opportunities in Africa,” was a major highlight of the event.
It featured industry experts Ehidiamen Okojie (Patricia), Theodora Chimonez (PM Africa), and Barr. Clara Okunzuwa (Clara Castle). Rasheed Bello (Codessy Technologies), served as the moderator.
During the panel discussion, these industry experts shed light on Artificial Intelligence (AI) ‘s profound impact on businesses. Contrary to concerns regarding AI’s potential to replace human jobs, these experts emphasized that AI tools are primarily designed to enhance and streamline our work processes, not take our jobs, thereby fostering increased efficiency and productivity.
The experts delved into the multifaceted aspects of AI and its transformative capabilities. They underscored that AI is an enabler, augmenting human capabilities rather than supplanting them. Instead of slow, repetitive, and mundane tasks humans have succumbed to, AI will serve as a tool to empower professionals to focus on higher-value activities that require human capabilities.
This symbiotic relationship between humans and AI fosters a collaborative and dynamic work environment, enhancing innovation and problem-solving. Also, the experts emphasized on the significance of reskilling and upskilling the workforce in response to the emergence of AI technologies.
The panellists acknowledged the genuine concerns surrounding job displacement due to AI. Still, they stressed that just like how historical precedents have demonstrated the ability of societies to adapt to technological advancements, AI is one of those advancements.
In summary, the panel discussion elucidated that AI is a transformative tool that can revolutionize our businesses. Rather than being apprehensive, individuals and organizations must embrace AI as a catalyst for progress.
The event concluded with a remarkable demonstration of support from Boundless Pay towards the tech community. As a testament to their commitment, the company pledged to offer each attendee a scholarship valued at $750,000 for pursuing cybersecurity studies in the United States.
To learn more about this opportunity, attendees were encouraged to visit the Yabacon Website and join the dedicated Discord group.
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