Africa?s first Artificial Intelligence factory idea was inspired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Nigerian industrialist, Aliko Dangote, a Zimbabwean billionaire and founder of Cassava Technologies, Strive Masiyiwa, has disclosed.

Daily Trust reports that Masiyiwa?s Cassava Technologies had tapped Nvidia Corp. to build Africa?s first AI factory.

Cassava will deploy Nvidia?s advanced computing and AI software at its data centres in South Africa by June 2025.

The same will then be done at its other facilities in Egypt, Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria, according to a statement released on the company?s website.

Masiyiwa said the rollout of AI infrastructure is critical for Africa to fully take advantage of the fourth industrial revolution.

?Our AI factory provides the infrastructure for this innovation to scale, empowering African businesses, startups and researchers with access to cutting-edge AI infrastructure to turn their bold ideas into real-world breakthroughs, and now they don?t have to look beyond Africa to get it,? he said.

In a lengthy Facebook post on Monday, the telecom tycoon explained how a conversation with Obasanjo and Dangote seven years ago in Singapore pushed him to take on ambitious projects that would transform Africa?s technological landscape.

He recalled how Obasanjo challenged him and Dangote to ?Do bigger things for Africa.?

According to Masiyiwa, Dangote shared his vision to build a refinery, an ambitious project that has since materialised at a cost of $19 billion.

?I will never forget the day, seven years ago when I had coffee with my friend Aliko Dangote and our ?Baba? [as we call former President Olusegun Obasanjo] at an event in Singapore,? Masiyiwa recalled. ?Baba challenged us both that day to ?Do bigger things for Africa? stuff you guys can now do!?? he said.

According to Masiyiwa, Dangote shared his vision to build a refinery, an ambitious project that has since materialised at a cost of $19 billion.

At that time, Masiyiwa said he had already been working on building the Liquid continental fiber network to ensure no African was left behind in the digital revolution.

He said the conversation made him feel compelled to do even more.

He explained that the turning point came when he attended a panel discussion where multiple speakers claimed Africa would remain a mere consumer of AI because the cost of computing power was beyond the continent?s reach.

?Sitting there, I thought to myself, ?If Aliko can raise $19 billion, surely I should be able to raise a few billion dollars to get AI Compute started in Africa. After all, we already have most of the key components right here in our own companies!?? he said.

Masiyiwa revealed that when he later mentioned his idea to Dangote and their mutual friend, Prof Benedict Oramah, the President of Afreximbank, they both encouraged him to pursue it.

?When I mentioned this to Aliko the next time we met, this time together with our friend, Prof Oramah of Afreximbank, they were egging me on to do it?, he said.

Masiywa said Dangote jokingly asked him not to forget Nigeria when the idea comes into fruition.

?My brother, you got this. It?s your field now. If you can?t do it, then who?? Aliko joked before adding: ?Don?t forget Nigeria!? he narrated.

On Oramah?s part, he quoted him as saying ?We are always there for you as Afreximbank, even though you will also have to go global for such funding.

That?s how he has spoken to me for over 30 years now,? Masiyiwa said. (Daily Trust, but headline rejigged)

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