This means most Africans who could be online are not. Coverage exists, usage does not. Across 39 African countries surveyed last year, only 31% of respondents used the internet daily, and just 47% owned a smartphone. 

At the same time, two-thirds of Africans have no access to a household computer, limiting their ability to engage in anything beyond basic messaging or social media

That gap, between availability and usage, is now the most important digital problem on the continent. It is no longer a problem of cables, towers, or signal strength, but rather whether people, businesses, and institutions can turn digital tools into something useful.

Usage is the next digital divide, and it is already determining who grows, who competes, and who’s left behind.

Access is No Longer the Hard Part

Over the past decade, Africa has done what many thought was impossible. Mobile networks expanded at speed, smartphones became cheaper, cloud services, productivity software, and digital platforms are now accessible to even small firms and public institutions.

In many countries, the basic infrastructure problem has been solved faster than expected. Large parts of Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, and Rwanda now sit under reliable mobile broadband coverage. Even rural areas are no longer entirely disconnected.

But then, when you look beyond map coverage, you see something entirely different.

Millions of people with network access use their phones mainly for calls, messaging, or entertainment. Many small businesses own digital tools they barely touch. Government platforms exist but see limited traffic. Schools have devices but lack the skills to integrate them into learning.

Access opened the door, but most people never walked through it.

The Digital Usage Gap is Where Value is Lost

Usage is where economic value is created, or not.

A farmer with internet access does not benefit unless they know how to find price information, weather data, or digital marketplaces. A small retailer gains little from a payment app if they cannot track sales, manage inventory, or understand customer data. A ministry can digitise services, but without trained staff and clear processes, the systems sit idle.

This is why the usage gap is just as important as the access gap.

Recent surveys across African countries show that while mobile phone ownership is high, regular, productive internet use is still low, especially beyond urban centres. Computer access is even more limited, which restricts skills development, content creation, and higher-value digital work.

What we are seeing is not a lack of technology, but a lack of execution capability, the ability to apply digital tools to problems, consistently and at scale.

Execution is Becoming the Advantage

Execution sounds far-reaching, but you see it in everyday decisions.

Whether a company trains staff beyond basic onboarding, or leadership understands what tools are for, not just what they cost, or if digital projects move from pilot stage into everyday operations.

Two organisations can buy the same software, one improves productivity, and the other sees no change. The difference is barely the tool, but the people, the processes, and the decisions around it.

Across Africa, a small group of firms and institutions are beginning to pull ahead not because they have better access, but because they use what they have better. They invest in skills, measure results, and adapt quickly when something does not work.

This is execution as a competitive edge, and it is harder to copy than infrastructure.

Why Africa is Especially Exposed

Africa’s risk is not that it lacks technology, but that skills and systems are not keeping pace with access.

Education systems still move slowly compared to how fast digital tools change. Many graduates enter the workforce without practical digital skills, even when they are comfortable with smartphones. 

Businesses usually adopt tools without changing how work is organised. Governments prioritise platforms over people.

There is also a policy lag, with digital progress still measured by access indicators including coverage, subscriptions, and device numbers, because they are easy to track. Usage, capacity, and productivity are harder to measure, and harder to fix.

The result is a divide; the few who know how to execute, and the many who are digitally present but economically stuck.

This is Not a Motivation Problem

It is important to be clear about this. Low usage is not about laziness or resistance to technology.

Cost is a limitation for many, data is still expensive relative to income, local content is limited, language is important, trust is important, but skills are the most important of all.

If people do not see clear value, they will not use digital tools as they should, with depth, even when access exists. Usage follows relevance, not infrastructure.

That is why closing the usage gap requires a different approach, one focused on skills, local solutions, and visible economic results.

What Happens if We Get This Wrong

If Africa fails to close the digital usage and execution gap, the consequences will be uneven growth.

A narrow group of firms, cities, and individuals will thrive. The rest will remain connected in name but excluded. Digital tools will exist, but their benefits will concentrate instead of spreading.

If we get it right, the opposite happens. Productivity improves, small businesses scale, public services work better, and young people gain skills that travel across borders.

The difference between these futures is usage, not access.

So…

Africa’s digital sustainability isn’t dependent on how many people can get online. That phase is ending.

It’s those who can use digital tools well to learn, to build, to compete, and to bring results.

Execution is becoming the key advantage. The only thing left to face is whether we are preparing enough people to take it.

Held at Eko Hotel, the Zenith Tech Fair 4.0 brought together industry leaders, tech enthusiasts, startups, and stakeholders to explore cutting-edge technologies shaping the future of business and lifestyle.

Highlights of Zenith Bank Tech Fair 4.0

Dr. Jim Ovia, the founder and chairman of Zenith Bank, inspired thousands of people who gathered at the event, emphasizing the importance of the annual tech fair.

Dr. Ovia also spoke about future plans to properly integrate technology in Zenith Bank for better and more efficient services.

Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, the group managing director of Zenith Bank Plc, in her welcome address, appreciated the chairman, Dr. Jim Ovia, for birthing the idea that led to the establishment of the tech fair initiative five years ago.

She thanked him for his vision in utilising technology to revolutionise the world of business and banking.

Dame Umeoji also stressed the importance of innovation and embedded finance in ensuring strong and enduring institutions.

According to her,

“It is paramount that we adapt and adopt technology to stay ahead of the curve. We have seen various cases of companies that failed because of their lack of innovation. It is quite obvious that when companies fail to innovate, they can easily be displaced. So, this is not the time to be orthodox; innovation should be a top priority for us.”

The GMD said Zenith Bank remains committed to providing digital solutions that empower businesses and individuals.

In his goodwill message, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State, called for a global approach to doing business in the country.

“What we need to do is to be able to enhance our product and services in order to compete in the world. We can’t continue to act local, we need to think global. Anything that we’re doing now, we need to be able to know that we are not just serving a local market, we actually want to serve the global market, and I’m glad that consistently, for the past four years, I have kept up with the Zenith Tech Fair.

Inspiring Keynote presentation

Robin Speculand, an expert digital implementation specialist graced the event all the way from Singapore.

He took the audience through series of trivia and quizzes to help them understand the evolving digital transformation landscape.

Speculand stated that for business to grow and evolve its technology there has to be a digital mindset. He expatiated on digital mindset thus;

“Empowerment: every business must carry the mindset that their services must empower people

“Platforms: the digital mindset allows businesses make use of multiple platforms that can be accessible by anyone

“Experimentation: a business must be ready to try out new things and take risks.

“Asking the right questions: a digitally minded person must know the right questions to ask

“Customer centric: the business must focus on what the customers want and tailor the products or services to suit their needs.

“Stakeholders: the business must have powerful stakeholders that are also very knowledgeable and experienced in the tech space

“Agility: a digitally minded business must be active and quick

He also mentioned that, digital transformation fails sometimes because some companies want to change the entire culture of the people or because they are transforming their entire business thereby losing the policy that the customers have come to trust.

“Digital transformation is not about having a digital strategy it is about having strategies in a digital world. Also, at the heart of digital transformation always comes the customer”, he said.

Danilo McGary,  a renowned expert in digital transformation and AI, also enlightened the audience about the possibilities of artificial intelligence (AI).

“AI has been in existence for over 60 years but was not really developed until now. There are three kinds of AI; Narrow AI; Traditional AI which is the regular AI that helps in answering questions just like ChatGPT or Gemini, and Artificial Generative Intelligence (AGI) is an AI system that can do anything a human or a group of humans can do and do it even better”.

“The Generative AI has advanced so much that it can learn things on its own without any prompt or instruction”, he said.

Dr. Jania Okwechime, the partner and AI | data leader for Deloitte, Africa, added that generative AI helps to increase efficiency and transform businesses.

“Gen AI can be used for fraud detection to prevent cybercrimes. It can also be used for document search and synthesis”, she said.

Panel Discussions | Technology in Business and Governance

The Zenith Tech Fair 4.0 also featured panel session with Wole Olutoye, Ada Jabaru, Funke Opeke, Guy Kuti, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, Dr. Anuwal Adam Sa’ad, speaking.

They unanimously agreed on the need to cautiously improve application of technology to every sector of the economy, especially the health sector to promote efficiency, accuracy and effectiveness, securing of documents to avoid impersonation and theft, amongst other discussions.

Innovative Product Launches and Exhibitions

The tech fair served as a platform for unveiling groundbreaking solutions. Leading exhibitors, including Ethnos, ZOHO, Zone, Vertiv, ZamZamPay, Dataflex, Zenith Insurance, etc, showcased products ranging from AI-powered cybersecurity solutions, data centre tools to cutting-edge fintech innovations.

Zecathon

Meanwhile, 10 contestants in the hackathon session at the fourth edition of the Zenith Tech Fair (#ZenithBankTechfair2024) received a total of N77.5m in prize money.

The winners emerged at the tech fair themed ‘Future Forward 4.0: Embedded Finance, Cybersecurity & Growth Imperatives – The Impact of AI,’ held on Thursday in Lagos.

The prize money was shared among 10 finalists who emerged from the over 1,700 contestants took part in the hackathon [READ MORE HERE].

Zenith Bank’s Digital Innovation

The bank demonstrated its pioneering digital banking services, reinforcing its role as a leader in Nigeria’s financial technology space. Attendees experienced live demonstrations of the bank’s seamless payment solutions, mobile apps, and innovative tools designed to enhance user experience.

Driving Nigeria’s Tech Ecosystem Forward

Zenith Bank Tech Fair 4.0 emphasized collaboration as the key to accelerating Nigeria’s tech ecosystem. By connecting innovators, investors, and businesses, the event underscored Zenith Bank’s leadership in promoting technology as a driver of sustainable development.

Social Media Buzz

The event trended on social media platforms, with the hashtag #ZenithBankTechFair4 gaining traction among attendees and tech enthusiasts. Users shared highlights, photos, and key takeaways, further amplifying the fair’s impact.

Looking Ahead

As Zenith Bank Tech Fair 4.0 concludes, anticipation builds for the next edition. With its dedication to championing innovation, Zenith Bank continues to pave the way for technological progress and digital transformation in Nigeria.

*For more more stories on tech initiatives, keep following Techeconomy on social media.