Jack-Rich: Africa will drive global Artificial Intelligence economy
The Chief Executive Officer of ELIN Group, Dr Elizabeth Jack-Rich, has said Africa will play a leading role in driving the future of the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) economy. The
The Chief Executive Officer of ELIN Group, Dr Elizabeth Jack-Rich, has said Africa will play a leading role in driving the future of the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) economy.
The businesswoman noted that Africa’s vast natural resources and growing industrial potential was critical to the next phase of technological advancement.
Jack-Rich argued that as AI continues to expand globally, the continent’s strategic importance goes beyond its mineral wealth, stressing that the continent’s ability to build integrated industrial capacity across key sectors will determine its influence in the emerging AI ecosystem.
She stated this in a statement on Thursday following her participation at the UNLEASH Global Business Conference 2026 in Washington, DC, where she made a strong case for Africa’s central place in shaping the future of AI and the global economy.
Speaking at the conference held at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, DC, Jack-Rich challenged conventional narratives around AI, stressing that its foundations extended far beyond software.
The UNLEASH Global Business Conference 2026, themed “Building for What’s Next,” brought together MBA students, entrepreneurs, corporate executives and policymakers for high-level discussions on leadership, innovation and resilience in a rapidly evolving global economy.
The event was co-hosted by the Africa Business Club, Women in Business Graduate Club, and Net Impact Club.
Jack-Rich featured as both a keynote speaker and a panellist in a fireside chat titled “Leadership in the Age of Disruption: Identity, Power, & Impact.”
She joined global leaders, including Denise Fall of Johnson & Johnson and Tolani Alli of the World Bank in a session that examined how leadership is evolving in the face of global uncertainty and emerging market dynamics.
“Everyone discusses AI like it’s a software story. No, it’s not; it’s a physics story,” she said.
According to her, the rapid expansion of AI technologies is deeply dependent on physical infrastructure and raw materials.
“It’s about power, compute, copper, rare earths, and the industrial services needed to move, extract, and refine all of that,” Jack-Rich stated.
The businesswoman noted that Africa’s importance in this ecosystem is often underestimated.
While the continent is widely recognised for its vast mineral resources, she said the real opportunity lies in building integrated industrial capacity.
“Africa has a meaningful role in this. What is often underestimated is not that Africa holds major deposits or is a significant supplier of these minerals, but that the next decade will reward operators on the continent who can integrate across the entire value chain—from mining to aviation, logistics, and power—and engage with global capital on equal terms,” she said.
Jack-Rich further disclosed that this perspective is driving her company’s strategic direction.
“That is the bet I am making with ELIN Group—not investing in Africa as a sentiment; we are beyond aid, but building an operating platform that the AI economy depends on, which is the African economy,” she said.
Participants described the discussions as insightful and forward-looking, particularly for young professionals and emerging leaders navigating sustainability challenges and economic volatility.
She expressed appreciation for the opportunity to contribute to global dialogue and reiterated her commitment to advancing Africa’s role in shaping the future of the global economy.
