A New Piece at Harvard Business Review On Industrialization in Africa Coming

When I wrote in Harvard that Africa’s industrialization policy must not follow the Chinese trajectory, many policymakers and leading economists reached out. TV stations like BBC and China’s CCTV called, and we discussed my thesis.  I had posited that within decades,  robots and AI would disintermediate most of the jobs which are currently being done in China – and if Africa’s playbook is to position itself to displace China as wages rise there,  we will be in trouble. (You can read that piece here at HBR  )

Indeed, the Western world will not outsource low paying jobs to anywhere because Apple, Dell and others will use robots and AI to do them in America and Europe. The implication is that Africa needs a new industrialization policy because what worked for China has expired!

A new piece is coming. In this one, I examine industrialization, urbanization, etc in Africa. It would be a good read.

Comment on Social Media Feeds

Comment 1: I agree that automation and robotics will take production back to the industrialized world, but Africa (Nigeria for me) still suffers a significant gap of “DO” ……produce things yourself, local capacity in skills, management and technology adoption……..that’s the foundation of industrialization. We need to be confident and fix that gap and start producing goods locally. We CAN do it, if we a) Believe in our products b) Insist on excellence and standards c) Allow us to access our markets with our growing population. We have a massive market for food, clothes, building materials etc……..Let’s get the fundamentals running.

Industrial Revolution (1-4) are all very interesting analysis of What happened after the cases. We need a DO (a wake up event) to push us forward….and like you said Ndubuisi Ekekwe it may not follow the same pathway and steps that China followed………..

My Response: “We need to be confident and fix that gap and start producing goods locally” – that is going to be a constant in any equation. We cannot have an urbanization rate of 49% with global manufacturing output of 2%. That has to change.

Comment 2: It would be tough for Africa if it’s industrialization policy does not incorporate local content, both human and non human.

Do African leaders realize that they would not be able to ship their workforce abroad like it’s happening today?

I can’t wait for this new piece to be available.

My Response: “It would be tough for Africa if it’s industrialization policy does not incorporate local content, both human and non human.” absolutely, we need the mindset of sankofa as posited in ancient Ghana

Comment 3: Ndubuisi Ekekwe, we need new knowledge to create this new industrialization policy and playbook.

Comment 4: “Indeed, the Western world will not outsource low paying jobs to anywhere because Apple, Dell and others will use robots and AI to do them in America and Europe. The implication is that Africa needs a new industrialization policy because what worked for China has expired!” ~ Ndubuisi Ekekwe

From Godwin Akpan – Disruptive Brand Consultant

To Nigerians, we can’t continue to test expired policies or outdated leaders. For us to be among the future countries thriving in the 4th industrial revolution, we must pick a young, vibrant, pragmatic and futuristic leader. We have a chance to rewrite history and make Nigeria a tourist and direct investment destination. Insecurity has plunged our country into the abyss of terrorists. We now have to negotiate with terrorists to live, to farm, travel by road or even attend school.

Your choice and vote will matter more than ever. Thanks to the #ElectoralAct recently signed.

I hope we campaign with respect and sell our candidate’s revolutionary programs and policies not throw tantrums that heighten tension in the country.

Let’s participate to educate and enlighten others not fight recklessly. Remember people are reading your public comments

Register for Tekedia Mini-MBA (Feb 10 - May 3, 2025), and join Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe and our global faculty; click here.