Chairman of the Stephen Akintayo Foundation, Dr. Stephen Akintayo, has said Africa must urgently embrace artificial intelligence or risk being left behind.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, He made the statement ahead of the Houston edition of his Business Growth Conference scheduled for August 23rd and 24th.
Dr. Akintayo explained that the two-day event would bring together business leaders from across the globe to address the challenges faced by African entrepreneurs, particularly those in the diaspora.
According to him, the gathering is designed to provide strategies on how to scale businesses internationally, attract funding, and build networks that go beyond borders.
“It’s about showing that nations respect you not by how many jobs you take, but by how many you create,” he said. “When Africans move abroad, many focus on employment, but real influence comes from entrepreneurship and ownership. That is the mindset we want to inspire at this conference.”
The entrepreneur also announced the launch of SACI Holdings, a new private equity and AI-focused venture he described as critical to Africa’s future competitiveness. The company, he said, would acquire stakes in businesses across sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, retail, and entertainment, while using artificial intelligence to drive productivity.
“The world is changing and AI is here to stay. Businesses that don’t adopt AI may not even exist in the future,” Akintayo declared.
“Through SACI Holdings, we will invest in struggling companies, infuse AI into their operations, and scale them to profitability.”
In addition, the foundation chairman revealed that he would be releasing five new books during the Houston conference, each exploring the potential of artificial intelligence in different fields. Among them is AI for Pastors, which he said reflects his background in ministry and the need for faith leaders to engage proactively with technology.
“When social media first emerged, many clergy resisted it and later became victims of misinformation. With AI, we must not repeat that mistake,” he said. “Africans cannot afford to be late adopters again. If we don’t influence AI, we will end up as its victims.”
Looking ahead, Akintayo maintained that Africa must take a leading role in shaping technological disruption. “The best way to predict the future is to change it. Africans must embrace AI now and influence what that future becomes,” he declared.
Boluwatife Oyaniyi
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