Ibadan Conference 2019 : Technology, Security and Socio-Economic Development in Africa

Africa’s prospects for socio-economic development will be largely determined by her response to the twin factors of security and technological advancement. Both factors are global in dimension, dynamic in nature and devastating in consequences.

Security challenges to the nations of Africa range from human and drug trafficking within and outside the continent to irregular migration in search of better opportunities. Others are the growing acts of terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, inter-tribal conflicts, xenophobic attacks on migrants within Africa and the intractable violent struggles over resource ownership.

Whereas, advancements in technology holds the potential solution to problems in education, healthcare, agricultural practices, transportation and even electoral processes across the continent, its ambivalent capacity to become a tool in the hands of anti-social forces and create a new vista of criminal adventurism in cybercrime makes it pertinent for Africa to develop a continent- wide approach to its deployment in the service of humanity.

Economic insecurity remains a major cause of crime and social insecurity and it is safe to posit that innovative technological advancement can serve not only as a potent weapon against crime but also as a catalyst for economic growth on the African continent if properly explored and carefully deployed.

The Faculty of Business and Communication Studies, The Polytechnic Ibadan, Nigeria is therefore inviting scholars from across the continent to its 2019 International Conference to share current research findings on the burning issues outlined above and begin the process of developing a roadmap for Africa to achieve the much-needed socio-economic development.