By:
Robert Kwaku Annor
Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of
Digital Transition and Technological Innovation, Djibril Ouattara, has urged
students to embrace artificial intelligence (AI), cultivate critical thinking
and develop innovative solutions adapted to the needs of populations and local
realities.
Ouattara made the call
during a conference on the challenges of artificial intelligence for training
and development, organised to mark the start of the 2026–2027 academic year and
the 30th anniversary of the Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny
(INP-HB).
The minister encouraged
students to take ownership of the technology while emphasising the importance
of sound knowledge, data quality and the responsible use of artificial
intelligence.
Recalling that “the
government is preparing the ground”, Ouattara stressed the essential role of
young people in the success of Côte d’Ivoire’s digital transformation.
The conference provided an
opportunity to discuss the challenges AI presents for education and
development, as well as the importance of preparing students to use the
technology responsibly and create solutions suited to local needs.