After Being Left Out of the First, Second, and Third Industrial Revolutions, Is Africa Finally Prepared for the Fourth Industrial Revolution?

Throughout history, there have been several revolutions, and, as a direct result of their separate actions, every one of them has caused the pace of social and economic activity to pick up. The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), which will differ from the ones that came before it, in that it will place a higher emphasis on human cooperation with machines and automation, is currently on the verge of beginning in the world. It is anticipated that this revolution will start sometime in the upcoming years. Many countries throughout the world are getting ready to invest substantial sums of money in this revolution to profit from the positive effects that it will have on the economy. The countries of Africa intend to use the Fourth Industrial Revolution as a direct response as well, to accelerate and even exceed their rate of progress. This chapter’s objectives were to provide information on the problems that Africa is currently experiencing, which are affecting its readiness for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), and to make recommendations for what the African continent should do to prepare for the 4IR. For this study, a method called systemic literature review was employed. This approach provides the researcher with access to current studies, pertinent papers, and other topics that need investigation. This chapter has successfully laid out some of the barriers preventing Africa from being prepared for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and it closes with some proposals for policy changes that the African continent should make to prepare for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.