The 4th Industrial Revolution : An Opportunity for Africa's "Decolonization" and Development or Recolonization? - Research

It is a dominant opinion that the 4th Industrial Revolution provides unique opportunities for fast tracking "decolonization" and development of states in Africa. Is Africa ready to respond to the phenomenon? An appraisal of the prevailing situation in Africa and disposition of its states to the 4th Industrial Revolution is the focus of the paper. The study obtained data through secondary sources, and were analyzed descriptively as the study is qualitative in nature. It observes that, how Africa states response to the 4th industrial revolution, depends on the governance of its states. Given the centrality of government in states, the dynamics of policy, infrastructure and institutional frameworks stemming from leadership in African states pose serious challenges to cashing in on its opportunities and navigating the risks, the paper argues. It concludes that irrespective of the disposition of states in Africa, the 4th Industrial Revolution is an inevitable reality that impacts its development process and redefines relations in the global system that could lead to the recolonization of Africa.