Where does an 800-pound gorilla sit?
The answer: Anywhere it wants.
Bill Gates is an 800-pound gorilla and he wants a front-row seat in planning the future of African education. This isn’t the obvious anti-rich people rant you see on the internet nowadays. I promise.
I'm no stranger to the allure of wealth; in fact, I work diligently to amass wealth myself. And I've never understood why some who strive for financial success harbor resentment for those who have already achieved it.
But there's something about Bill Gates that demands more than casual contemplation.
Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and one of the planet's wealthiest individuals is renowned not just for amassing his wealth but for his transformation into a philanthropic powerhouse through something known as philanthrocapitalism: doing philanthropy by copying the way that business is done in the for-profit world.
With assets of $67.3 billion as of December 2022, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest private charitable foundation in the world, according to Forbes.
His endeavours have spanned from healthcare to education. Still, it's the recent news of a $30 million investment in African education through AI that has set the stage for a crucial examination.
This isn't about begrudging success; it's about delving into the implications of one man's vision and the potential impact, both positive and negative, it could have on the future of education in Africa.
It's about questioning whether Gates, the 800-pound gorilla in the room, should be given that front-row seat without scrutiny.
Bill Gates' Plan For AI in Africa
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recently announced a $30 million investment to develop an AI platform aimed at boosting innovation in healthcare and other social issues across Africa. This new initiative will focus on making AI more accessible to African researchers and ensuring it is deployed ethically, safely, and equitably.
The AI platform will consist of three main components:
A data repository that African scientists can contribute to and use for AI development. This centralized data bank aims to ensure quality datasets are available to many African nations.
Technical experts who will collaborate with local partners on AI modeling, tool development, and ensuring accuracy. Their role is to turn concepts into functioning AI systems tailored for each situation.
Regulatory specialists who will advise on policy issues like privacy, copyright, accountability, and preventing bias in AI systems. They will help ensure innovations align with African values.
According to Bill Gates, a major goal is bringing cutting-edge AI capabilities to African nations right away, rather than waiting years for trickle-down effects. The focus will be projects related to healthcare, education, agriculture, financial services, and general innovation.
Gates highlighted the need to ensure AI reduces inequity rather than exacerbating it. He sees government and philanthropic guidance as key to steering AI toward positive societal impacts. This new African platform aims to demonstrate ways underserved communities can also benefit from the AI revolution.
Speaking to the famous Youtuber, Mrwhosetheboss in a recent video, Gates said the investment will facilitate the translation of textbooks to African languages and increase access to AI tutors across the continent.
The investment builds on the foundation's recent $5 million in grants for nearly 50 AI projects focused on health and development across the global south. It signals a concerted effort to direct more AI capabilities toward solving challenges in lower-income nations.
This of course presents a plethora of opportunities for Africans. But given the past controversies that have surrounded Gates’ investments, should we be happy or worried?
Reasons for Caution
While Bill Gates' education investment represents much-needed resources, his philanthropic track record raises some red flags. Past initiatives linked to Gates have been embroiled in controversies and allegations of harm, especially when applied without local participation.
I recently watched this documentary by ARTE Channel on GMOs(Genetically Modified Organisms) being funded by the Gates Foundation in West Africa(I highly recommend that you also watch it). Regional groups opposed the agricultural technologies as environmentally risky and reducing biodiversity. They argued local voices were excluded while Gates partnered with corporations pushing their own interests.
In India, reports surfaced of human trials of the HPV vaccine funded by Gates causing injury and even death in children from poor tribal communities. Locals claimed they were not adequately informed of risks or able to refuse participation.
#ArrestBillGates even trended on Indian Twitter for a while, as part of a campaign calling Indian authorities to charge the BMGF(Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) and Gates for conducting illegal medical trials on vulnerable groups in two Indian states. This fuels worries that African populations could be subject to similar experimentation.
Given this history, Gates' heavy hand in influencing African education makes me uneasy. Even benevolent aid can become damaging interference when applied top-down without consent. African nations must retain decision-making power over how this investment takes shape. Gates' expertise should support, not dictate priorities.
Money alone will not fix complex societal challenges like educational gaps. Local context and participation matter. We cannot afford to have Africa become Gates' next philanthropic "experiment" gone awry. Cautious optimism must be matched with healthy skepticism and firm boundaries. If Gates wishes to partner on African education, he must truly listen to African voices.
My Cautiously Optimistic Perspective
As an African education advocate, I have seen firsthand the severe challenges plaguing our school systems. Statistics paint a disturbing picture - overcrowded classrooms, crumbling infrastructure, and inadequate learning materials, among others. Teachers are woefully under-trained and underpaid, often not even showing up for class. Facilities are dilapidated, lacking basics like electricity, running water, and toilets. The average African student receives a fraction of the education their peers in developed nations do.
Facing these realities, I don’t think Africa can afford to turn down any genuine offer of help to improve our education systems. An influx of funding and resources is sorely needed. In this context, Bill Gates' multimillion-dollar investment in AI technologies for Africa is welcome. Whatever its limitations, this initiative will likely expand access to education and provide new tools for students and teachers. For schools struggling at the most basic levels, any support is better than the status quo.
But I am cautiously optimistic. My hope is tempered by the concern that Africans must remain in the driver's seat of our own educational future. As my role model, Captain Thomas Sankara once said, “He who feeds you, controls you.” People like Gates, while well-intentioned, cannot impose top-down solutions without local input. The challenges facing African schools are complex and context-specific. The solutions must be homegrown, building on what teachers, parents and communities identify as priorities.
“He who feeds you, controls you.” - Captain Thomas SANKARA
AI technologies should be assessed with close examination - where could they provide real benefit versus distracting from more pressing needs? How can they empower rather than replace African educators? Can they be adapted for low-resource environments? Reasonable precautions are wise.
Most importantly, any investments must strengthen Africa's agency and self-sufficiency over the long-term. The goal should be training African experts to lead educational innovation using tools like AI on our own terms. With strategic partnerships on an equal footing, Gates' funding could help African nations get to a point where such philanthropy is no longer needed.
A future where African students have access to high-quality education regardless of geography or income - is the ultimate destination. There will be bumps on the road, but progress is possible if we remain focused on that vision.
Thank you so much for reading The Value Junction today. Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section. I’m very much open to views that challenge mine. Because I understand best by keeping an open mind and looking at both sides of the story. It's through challenging our assumptions that we grow collectively.
Last week I shared that I have a goal of hitting 1000 subscribers by the end of this year. So please continue sharing The Value Junction with everyone who might be interested in edtech.
Next week, I have the privilege of interviewing a leading international edtech consultant and visionary. I'll keep her identity a surprise for now. She'll be sharing groundbreaking perspectives on where edtech has been and where it's headed next.😉 You won't want to miss the insights from this mystery guest!
In closing, thank you again for being part of this journey. Your readership, shares, and comments make The Value Junction a rich place for nuanced exploration. Here's to growing together in 2023!
With love and peace,
Bechem Ayuk - The Value Junction
Thank you so much for the compliments!! I'm so glad you enjoy reading my articles. Let's keep growing this community together💪
Hello Bechem. I've been a subscriber to your newsletter for quite some time now. I've been reading and enjoying the value you share in your writing but never commenting. But today I just want to say I'm really impressed by articles. The way you link things which appear to have nothing in common and still make it make sense is absolutely amazing. Last week you spoke about why we need more polymaths and highlighted some renowned polymaths. I hope you know you're also a polymath. Your breadth of knowledge is really stunning. I wish more people got to read your articles. Please never stop posting. I look forward to the interview next week.