Africa Key To Global AI Economy

Nigerian entrepreneur and philanthropist, Dr Elizabeth Jack-Rich, has declared that Africa will play a central role in driving the future of the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) economy.

Jack-Rich, the founder and chief executive officer of Elin Group Limited, spoke at the “UNLEASH Global Business Conference 2026” in Washington, DC, United States.

She said the era when Africa was seen only as a destination for aid projects had passed, stressing that the continent now holds strategic value in the fast-growing AI industry.

According to her, many people wrongly see AI as only a software-driven innovation, whereas the real story goes beyond coding and applications.

“Everyone talks about AI as though it is merely a software story. It is not. It is a physics story,” she said.

She explained that AI depends heavily on stable electricity, data centres, copper, rare-earth minerals, and strong industrial systems for moving, extracting, and refining raw materials.

Jack-Rich noted that Africa already contributes a significant portion of these critical resources needed to power the global technology revolution.

She said what many investors and analysts fail to recognise is that the next decade would favour operators on the continent who can connect the full value chain.

“What is truly underestimated is that the next decade will reward operators on the continent who can integrate across the full value chain — from mining to aviation, logistics and power — while engaging global capital on equal terms,” she said.

She added that this was the vision behind her investment strategy through Elin Group.

“That is the best I am making with Elin Group.

“This is not about investing in Africa out of sentiment. We have moved beyond the era of aid projects.

“It is about building an operating platform that the AI economy depends on — and that platform is the African economy,” she stated.

Jack-Rich also expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to speak at the global conference, where she shared insights on resilient leadership and the role of African businesses in shaping the global economy’s future.