In the digital era, a country's or organisation's value is based more on its data assets than its ability to produce physical goods. Many describe data as the new oil because it can enable better decision-making, innovation, accountability, and new products and services. This has made it an essential resource for economic and social development in Africa.
However, the value of data is often not well appreciated or measured, and its potential benefits are not evenly distributed across the continent. Nonetheless, data is an asset that can generate benefits for individuals, businesses, and societies through value creation. Therefore, public data should be open and freely accessible to citizens to create value where they can.
