A GLIMPSE OF 2030 WITHOUT AI

Everyone knows someone who would rather do things the old way than embrace the faster more modern routes. We jokingly refer to them as being analogue in a digital age. They are the ones who would rather keep the old ledgers because they do not trust the accounting packages that store everything digitally. They would insist on typed and printed documents carried around in thick files rather than use Google docs or other forms of digital documentation. Skype meetings or zoom are no go areas as their preference remains the face-to-face meetings around long conference tables.

Technology has made long strides and continues to get even more sophisticated daily. When the IBM typewriter replaced the old manual typewriter, it was met with a huge celebration. Finally, something that cut down the time wasted. Then the computers kept coming, the technology kept improving until this era where you don’t even have to use keyboards; you just talk into your device and technology turns your speech to text. Students no longer need to go through old dusty libraries looking for reference materials; a tap on your device and the subject you are researching is delivered to you along with cross references.  Technology has done a lot and keeps improving. AI gets more audacious daily and it is difficult to imagine any analogue person excelling in business in the next five years. This is because, with AI and other tech innovations, business is faster, cheaper and more responsive.

I had a moment with a man that I have known nearly all my life. Let me call him Mr. E, to preserve his identity. He was a rich man even in the 70s and continued to make financial progress ever since. He was once in control of a large percent of real estate deals in the Edo/ Delta axis. I sat next to him on a flight back from the US and we started naturally to chat about business. He told me that he had major setbacks with his sons who plundered his business rather than make contributions. (Sometime in the future, we will review the back story of LEGACY and how to identify your successors and groom them).

Mr. E now has two promising grandchildren who he feels have genuine interest in the business. He said they had problems. Mr. E is analogue and his grandchildren are tech pros. He lamented that the young ones felt he was too slow to respond to issues and he felt they were always in a hurry and left out the human touch that was an integral part of his business. Quietly amused, he pulled out a document that I am sharing with you below.

It was prepared by his granddaughter and presented to about 15 people including Mr. E and members of his advisory board, top of management staff of his organisation and some of his friends. It was a gentle but passionate plea to her grandfather and his cronies to take their heads out of their analogue boxes and consider the future.

Find the slightly compressed version below.

Let me start by saying this: I have immense respect for everyone in this room. You built businesses when conditions were tough, when access to capital was scarce and every step forward was powered by sheer grit, intuition, and relationships. You succeeded without the tools that younger entrepreneurs today take for granted. You succeeded without AI, without mobile apps, without online marketplaces. And that is no small achievement. There is a quiet pride among you that is well deserved. I celebrate you all; my brother and I are proud to know that we carry the genes of a great man such as our grandfather.

But here is a sobering thought: the same methods that brought you success and great financial rewards all those years may not take you further.

Let’s take a quick journey into the year 2030 and see what your businesses will look like if nothing changes and you are still running operations the way you always have—relying on loyal staff, trusted suppliers, and face-to-face interactions.

The old and usual way feels safe and familiar but around you, things are changing fast.

• Your competitors are using AI-driven customer insights. They know what clients want before they ask whereas you still rely on word of mouth and guesswork.
• Customer service is instantaneous and available 24/7 elsewhere. Chatbots answer questions at midnight whereas our phone lines go silent after 6 pm.
• Global reach becomes normal. Small firms in Kenya, Ghana, or South Africa are selling globally using AI translation tools and digital storefronts. Our market remains local, limited to people who know your name.
• Efficiency gaps widen. Others use AI to predict inventory needs, cutting waste and maximizing profits while we still lose money on late supplies and unsold goods.
• Younger customers drift away because they don’t want to queue or fill out manual forms. They prefer businesses that feel fast, modern, and digital.

By 2030, the danger is not that your businesses will collapse overnight, but that it will fade into irrelevance.

Let me paint a different picture of how our business will be in 2030 if we embrace AI and other evolving technology today.

• Smarter decision-making. AI helps you analyze sales trends, customer feedback, and market shifts so your business decisions are sharper and faster. Imagine if we accurately interpret the demography that actually needs our housing units and how to locate and market to them. In minutes, AI will help analyze our sales data, identify which housing units perform best, and spot market shifts before they even become obvious.
• Personalized customer service. So far the personal calls work but there’s just so much you can do when your data base is widening. Imagine sending each client birthday wishes or tailored product recommendations automatically. That personal touch, facilitated by AI, makes customers feel seen and valued, and keeps them loyal to our brand.
• Global visibility. With AI-powered translation and marketing tools, our brand speaks multiple languages and reaches customers far beyond our city or country.
• Lean operations. Inventory, payroll, and logistics become smoother with AI forecasting and automation. You save more money and time.

When we embrace technological changes, we are sure of our place in the future. We will  thrive better when we marry your seasoned entrepreneurial experience with modern innovations. The best part is that you don’t have to be a tech pro like me to achieve these. You only need to partner with tools that extend your wisdom and amplify your strengths.

There’s no need to say that I found the young lady’s paper very interesting and I encouraged Mr. E to heed their message. I took permission to publish this article because I know that there are many that are still struggling with the changes that are taking place. Some people are afraid that the numerous tech innovations will take people’s jobs away and hand them over to AI or some other robotic employees. I think the real risk is not that AI will take over jobs but that someone who knows how to use AI will. When calculators first appeared, many resisted. The accounts staff thought it was reducing their importance. They wanted to cling to their superior knowledge of Arithmetic. But those who embraced calculators did not lose their skill or their jobs. They gained speed, efficiency and accuracy. The same is true for AI and modern technology today.

If you are like Mr. E, remember ‘your experience built the foundation but technology can build the skyscraper.’ By 2030, the most successful entrepreneurs will not be the youngest or the flashiest. They will be those who, like you, have wisdom and the courage to pair it with modern tools. Cheers!

Fatherhood with Ibe

Beyond Paying School Fees:

10 THINGS EVERY FATHER MUST KNOW

When I was growing up in Benin, I noticed some things about my father. He wasn’t always the loudest voice in the room but his was the most effective. He didn’t need to spend time explaining why something had to be done the way he said it should be. He just said it and there were no questions. I observed and understood it to mean that a man did not need to talk too much or shout to be heard. A man understood what was necessary for the smooth running of his home and gave instructions to uphold those and the instructions were obeyed or the culprits would face instant punishment.

Perhaps my dad ruled his large household with too stern a hand but the home worked – everyone knew the script and followed it wholeheartedly.

That’s the thing about fatherhood: children watch and take note, even when you think they’re not. And in Africa, where fathers are often weighed down by the responsibility of providing not just for the immediate family but for the extended, it’s easy to forget that being a dad is not just about what you bring home, but who you are at home. It is not just about maintaining discipline but also maintaining a personal relationship with your children.

So, whether you’re a young father still learning the ropes, or a grandfather now looking back on your journey, here are 10 basic things I think all fathers should know. (Feel free to add to the list).

1. Your Presence Matters More Than Your Presents

Too many African fathers believe, “If I’m putting food on the table, I’ve played my part.” But children rarely measure love in naira or cedis. They measure it in shared and memorable moments.
I once heard a young man say:

“My dad bought me my first phone, latest PS games but what I remember growing up is how he never came for any of my school activities. I used to watch other kids run to show their prizes to their fathers but mine never had the time to come and celebrate my wins. One time, I had practiced really well for the school’s sports day, and begged him to come and watch me collect all the medals. He didn’t come. My father never came.”

Absence can cut deeper than any hunger.

2. Discipline is Guidance, Not aggravation or Persecution

We grew up with belts, long strong canes and slippers flying around the room at the slightest mistake. But fathers need to know: fear doesn’t raise better children, it raises secretive ones – it raises kids quick to lie to get out of a bad situation and those skilled in covering their tracks.
Discipline is necessary. It means correction with explanation. Punishment says, “I want you to suffer.” Discipline says, “I want you to grow.”

3. Affection Does Not Weaken You

Many African men struggle to hug their children. “It’s not in our culture,” they say. “That one is between them and their mother.” A friend of mine once said. But children need tenderness as much as they need toughness. They value affection and glow when commended.

I know a Ghanaian father who, for the first time, hugged his teenage daughter after she won a televised debate. She cried, not because she won, but because her father finally showed her open affection. That hug changed their relationship.

4. Example Speaks Louder Than Words

Fathers love to command:

 “Don’t lie. Don’t steal. Don’t fight. Respect your elders.”

Those are necessary instructions and drumming them into a child’s mind falls into a dad’s to-do list, if there was one. But the truth is that children copy what they see. If you cheat at work or insult and fight their mother, they will learn more from that than from your words.

There is an Igbo proverb: “A child does not grow up in a market without learning how to haggle.” There you go!

5. Learn to Listen

A father’s instinct is to lecture, we all know that. There are many things that contribute to that attitude – the certainty that you know better, anxiety over the child etc. But sometimes, your child doesn’t need answers, only ears. He wants you to listen, to provide a safe place where he/she can just air her opinions and anxieties.

A Kenyan father once discovered his son was skipping school. Instead of flogging or threatening to discontinue paying the boy’s fees or even disowning him, as some fathers keep throwing around, he asked why. The boy broke down. He was being bullied in school. That single act of listening saved the boy’s education and led to a better father/son relationship.

6. How You Treat Their Mother Matters

You may think your quarrels are between husband and wife, but your children are taking notes. Sons are learning how to treat women, daughters are learning what to expect from men.
I once met a young woman in Lagos who swore never to marry. Why? I asked her. She said, “If marriage is what my father and mother had, please count me out.” She explained that every day, she watched her father insult her mother, almost always bringing her to tears and totally eroding her self esteem. She grew up determined never to give a man that power over her life. To effectively be the head of your home, you need to be more deliberate about your actions because a lot of impressionable eyes are watching and learning.

7. Culture Should Guide, Not Cage

Tradition is beautiful, but not everything old is gold. Some African fathers believe, “Child-rearing is a woman’s duty.” But children thrive when their fathers play with them, cook once in a while for the family, and even braid their hair, teach them to swim, ride a bicycle, etc, little things that create lasting memories. .

Imagine your son telling his friends, “My dad taught me how to make jollof rice.” Or, “my dad and I cooked fried rice for the family. Mum said the food was delicious but the whole kitchen was a mess.” Those memories will outlive any inheritance.

8. Money is Not the Only Inheritance

Land, houses, and cars are fine. But what happens when they are stolen, squandered, or lost in a bad economy? A father’s true legacy is not his real estate but values: integrity, faith, and resilience.
A Cameroonian man I met at an international conference for stakeholders in the energy field talked to a small group about “Leaving a Worthy legacy.” He said that his business was thriving because of the legacy his father left him and all his siblings. Later, he said he grew up dirt poor. Where then did the legacy come from, one participant asked him. The Cameroonian explained that hard work, honesty and unwavering faith were the values his father handed down to his children and they were more meaningful than any tangible inheritance could have been.

9. Stop Comparing Your Children

This is common in African homes: “Why can’t you be like your brother?” But comparison crushes the soul. Every child is a seed of a different and unique tree — mango will never taste like orange.

Celebrate uniqueness. The quiet child may not be class captain, but could grow into a visionary writer or thoughtful leader. That child that is always filling your home with his friends may become a renowned politician or influencer. Nurture the individuality of your child!

10. Fatherhood is a Journey, Not a Destination

You won’t always get it right. There will be days you shout when you should hug, days you miss the game, days you feel like you’ve failed. Just do your best. Consistency is important but at the same time, there’s no examination score sheet. There’s no one answer that cancels all others. Keep showing up. Keep being attentive.

Remember the proverb: “The child of a lion will one day roar.” Even if your effort feels unseen now, it will echo in your child’s future.

In conclusion, note that being a father is not about perfection, it is about intentionality, about showing love and understanding. African fathers today have an opportunity to blend the wisdom of tradition (strength, responsibility and provision) with the compassion and openness of modern parenting. Show up, lead with love, and leave a legacy your children will not only inherit but also cherish. At the end of the day, they may forget the toys, the shoes, even the school fees but they will never forget how special you made them feel. And that, dear fathers, is the greatest legacy you can leave.