Africa will grow economically by being better connected to the world and each other. It’s all about being connected. It’s really as simple as that. In ancient times and even today the cities that have better access to trade flourish. And flourishing towns that had expressways or highways built around them eventually dwindled away. It’s all about being connected to a trade route, todays trade route is the internet. Like the waterways, railway, airways and roads the internet (Digital Superhighway) is an economic center. Even the technological setbacks involved with providing the internet has created businesses, jobs and economic growth.
The Internet is changing the way we work, socialize, create and share information, and organize the flow of people, ideas, and things around the globe. Yet the magnitude of this transformation is still underappreciated. The Internet accounted for 21 percent of the GDP growth in mature economies over the past 5 years.
Still in the early age of the internet, it has already transformed sectors such as banking and education drastically with online banking, bill pay, eLearning and will continue to expand exponentially.
With free internet access for Nigeria and other African nations it will allow African innovators, entrepreneurs thrive and create continent wide capital growth as the internet continues to evolve.