The peculiarity of the African continent qualifies it as a viable hub for Blockchain solutions.
Although lagging in most areas of development, the opportunity offered by Blockchain technology in its versatile form presents the continent with the opportunity to leapfrog several transitional processes and join its peers in the comity of states.
Africa needs Blockchain
Since Blockchain finds application in every system where data is managed, stored or transferred, solving the lingering developmental problems in Africa now appears to be an achievable task in the near future.
In order to achieve the numerous solutions made possible by the Blockchain, certain fundamental processes must be put in place as soon as possible, and this can only be achieved through proper education.
If there is any aspect of Blockchain development in Africa that must be taken very seriously, it is the knowledge acquisition/transfer.
A continental deficiency
The continent presently suffers from the lack of adequate education in several areas of development. Little wonder the rate at which citizens travel overseas to seek proper training and education even in conventional fields.
The absence of proper education is responsible for the wrong interpretation of concepts and innovations finding their ways into the continent. The blanket ban on Bitcoin, OneCoin and other Ponzi schemes by the Nigerian government a few months ago is an example of the consequence of inadequate knowledge.
In the above-mentioned scenario, the authorities hurriedly made a proclamation without understanding the difference between such concepts that they put in the same basket. However, after being criticized by indigenous users, the blanket ban was reversed and modalities put in place towards understanding the entire concept of digital currencies.
Hence, the current wave of educational programs and startups charged with the responsibility of bringing the continent up to pace in matters concerning Blockchain and decentralized technology is not a surprise.
Partnership with government
Prior to this time, we have seen organizations like the Cryptographic Development Initiative of Nigeria (CDIN) take on the responsibility of sensitizing participants within the crypto space and promoting the awareness of differentiating between genuine products and elements of fraud.
The organization also boasts of a strong representation in various departments where the Nigerian government is developing the functional environment for digital currencies and decentralized technology.
Hands-on learning
Also in its emerging stages is Blockchain startup Cryptogene. Comprised of experts from across the African continent, the startup claims to be on a mission to provide Blockchain-based solutions, especially for African countries seeking to create better integration and development using the plethora of advantages the Blockchain technology offers.
Cryptogene claims to work towards bringing cryptocurrency and Blockchain technology to the mainstream on the African continent through education, adoption and implementation.
The startup takes it a step further by creating a multi-platform hub for hands-on learning that supports cross-border interaction, usage and development of Blockchain tools for individual and organizational goals.
Conferences
In March 2017, Johannesburg, South Africa hosted on of the biggest Blockchain events yet in the continent, a conference which featured Andreas Antonopoulos as keynote speaker. The conference also brought together a diverse range of local and international experts that discussed the challenges and exciting possibilities in innovation and disruption that can be leveraged in Africa using this Blockchain technology.
The litany of startups communities and events in Africa working towards Blockchain awareness and development can go on and on. The bottom line is that the continent appears set for the advantage of leapfrogging lost years of non-development by taking advantage of the prevailing global Blockchain disruption.