Africa should stop relying on Western metrics and foreign rankings, which were imposed during the colonial era, to measure success, professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of the Free State, South Africa, Abdon Atangana told Sputnik Africa.
According to him, the "eagle and chicken" metaphor illustrates how talented Africans, raised in limiting environments, may not realize their potential and react to challenges from a place of limitation, not strength.
"For African universities and research entities to unlock the full potential of our youth, they must undergo structural transformation," the expert noted.
To Lead in AI, Africa Must 'Cultivate Strong Mathematical Foundation'
Math departments in African educational institutions should be elevated from merely support units for other disciplines to strategic centers of innovation, Atangana remarked.
Moreover, investment is needed in PhD programs, postdoctoral research, and regional research institutes focused on key mathematical fields, the expert added.
According to the speaker, the first step to African AI innovation is teaching children the power and beauty of mathematics — not just formulas.