Burkina Faso hosts first Grand Data Exhibition in Africa to promote responsible data governance
via Lefaso.net3 min read
Djibril Pamousso initiated the Grand Data Exhibition in Africa GSDA with the goal of fostering an African ecosystem where data drives development. He emphasized that Africa must not be left behind as artificial intelligence transforms economies, administrations, and societies, highlighting the need to address the challenges and opportunities data presents for sustainable development. The exhibition aims to provide a framework for sharing experiences, strengthening skills, and creating synergies for the continent's development, based on a rigorous study of the needs of businesses, administrations, academia, and youth. The first edition of GSDA is under the patronage of the Minister of Digital Transition, Aminata Zerbo/Sabané. Michel Jonas Somé, representing the Minister, praised the initiative as timely, offering Burkina Faso and Africa a platform for strategic exchanges on data in the age of artificial intelligence. He noted that data has become a strategic resource, with a country's ability to produce, collect, organize, protect, host, and leverage its data indicating its power and autonomy. Somé stressed that mastering data is a strategic imperative for Africa, given its talented youth, dynamic universities, innovative businesses, and considerable potential. He also mentioned Burkina Faso's efforts to secure national digital assets through data center acquisition, aiming to make data a lever for sovereignty, public performance, and value creation. The GSDA will feature high
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