Artificial intelligence: Cameroon develops a national strategy 🚀

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Cameroon has developed its national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy on January 21, 2025. This initiative aims to position the country as a key player in the global AI ecosystem by leveraging its potential in strategic sectors.

Official announcement for a major project 📢

The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minette Libom Li Likeng, officially announced the development of this strategy. The declaration was made during the opening ceremony of national consultations for the 2025 roadmap for the postal, telecommunications, and information and communication technology (ICT) sectors.

On this occasion, the Minister stated that the initiative seeks to establish Cameroon as an essential player in AI. To achieve this goal, the strategy will focus on sectors such as health, agriculture, education, and governance.

« It is crucial to establish robust mechanisms to ensure responsible artificial intelligence. We need to strengthen digital infrastructure, develop local expertise, and promote innovation, » she declared.

Persistent challenges ⚠️

Indeed, Cameroon is still striving to seize the opportunities offered by AI to accelerate its development. However, major challenges remain, particularly in terms of infrastructure and local expertise.

To ensure the success of this strategy, the government has issued a call for expressions of interest. This initiative aims to preselect consulting firms and research offices to support the authorities in implementing this ambitious project. The objective is to make digital technology a key driver of economic and social progress.

Nevertheless, according to the « Government AI Readiness Index 2023 » report published by Oxford Insights, Cameroon ranks 153rd out of 193 countries in terms of readiness to adopt AI, with a score of 30.2 out of 100. This ranking highlights gaps in several areas but also underscores the country’s growth potential in AI.

Promising projects 📈

Despite these obstacles, several promising initiatives are already emerging. AI is gradually being utilized to improve various services, particularly in health, agriculture, and financial services. These early successes demonstrate the potential of this technology to transform the daily lives of Cameroonians.

However, ensuring the effective implementation of the national AI strategy is crucial. Additionally, solid digital infrastructure is indispensable. The government has announced that one of its priorities will be to improve access to high-speed internet. This is essential to support the functioning of AI-based applications and to stimulate innovation in key sectors.

For digital inclusion 🌐

In her speech, Minette Libom Li Likeng emphasized the importance of ensuring quality connectivity for all Cameroonians. Furthermore, she noted that improving services does not depend solely on telecom operators but on the country’s entire digital ecosystem. « We must ensure connectivity so that all Cameroonians have equitable access. When there is connectivity, we must improve service quality. This is not the responsibility of one party alone. We have tended to blame only the operators, but the entire ecosystem must contribute, » she stated.

With this strategy, Cameroon hopes to follow the lead of other African countries that have already implemented national AI strategies. These countries have successfully leveraged AI to modernize their economies and strengthen their global competitiveness.

Over to you !!
What do you think about Cameroon’s initiative to develop a national AI strategy? Share your thoughts in the comments 😉