African countries have long pursued the vision of developing techno-cities that rival global tech hubs. However, most of these projects have struggled to live up to their ambitious promises. Despite past failures, Nigerian tech entrepreneur and investor Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, notable for co-founding two African tech unicorns Andela and Flutterwave, believes he can succeed where others have not.
Aboyeji plans to launch Itana, a vibrant tech city in Nigeria, designed to attract foreign investment and drive innovation. His optimism stands in stark contrast to the challenges faced by other smart city projects across the continent.
African nations have envisioned techno-cities/smart cities as a solution to poverty and economic stagnation. These cities aim to create jobs, attract investment, and showcase Africa's potential in the global tech sector. Over the past decade, projects like Konza City in Kenya, HOPE City in Ghana, and Akon City in Senegal have emerged, promising to transform the continent's economic landscape. However, despite the grand visions, the reality has been less promising.
Blows from the Past
The road to Itana is littered with the remains of ambitious smart city projects across Africa. Konza Technopolis in Kenya, announced with much fanfare in 2008, was supposed to be Africa's "Silicon Savannah." Despite over a decade of development and significant investment, Konza remains a stark symbol of unmet expectations.
Miles from Nairobi, amidst barren savannah, the site is still far from the bustling tech hub it was meant to become. With only the Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) headquarters standing, the project has not attracted the expected level of investment or development, leaving many to question its viability.
Similarly, Akon City in Senegal is another cautionary tale. Conceived by music icon Akon as a USD 6 B real-life Wakanda (from the Marvel films), the city has seen little progress since its groundbreaking in 2020.
While the vision included futuristic skyscrapers powered by solar energy and Akoin cryptocurrency, the 136-acre site today is a mere pasture where a single concrete block stands in a field where development was supposed to begin four years ago. Increasingly impatient Senegalese authorities have even threatened to reclaim 90% of the land due to Akon's failure to meet key milestones.
Both projects highlight common pitfalls: overly ambitious visions unsupported by financial and infrastructural realities, lack of consistent funding, and challenges in securing investor trust.
