Skipping industrialisation for information-age is not a foundation for growth

Elton Plaatjes writing in Ventures Africa:

Baati roofing sheets courtesy of New Vision

How can a continent skip industrialisation, as the most labour intensive sectors? Of what benefit can the age of technology be for Africa where. Africa accounts for over a sixth of the world’s population, but generates only 4% of global electricity...Africa has been misled into thinking that we need to follow the information age and that we can skip the industrial revolution we so badly need. Technological innovation, as we know it from the US and Europe, tends to feed consumerism in Africa, not employment.

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For further context read A MAKE Philosophy for Africa: Beyond just Cellphones