African Universities Embrace Drone Technology to Boost Development and Innovation
By Wagdy Sawahel
11 December 2025
African universities are increasingly integrating drone technology into their education and research programs, recognizing its critical role in advancing sustainable development goals and humanitarian efforts across the continent. This strategic embrace aims to harness drones’ potential in sectors such as agriculture, health logistics, climate monitoring, infrastructure management, and disaster response. However, despite promising advancements, African institutions face several challenges that require coordinated policy support, sustained investment, and enhanced partnerships to fully realize the technology’s benefits.
Drone Technology: A Catalyst for Innovation and Development
Professor Raphael Tabani Mpofu, CEO of Inhlanyelo Hub—a subsidiary of the University of South Africa—emphasizes the strategic importance of drone technology in Africa’s developmental trajectory. “African universities sit at the center of talent development,” he explains. “Investing in workforce and research capacity in drone technology ensures Africa builds its own expertise instead of relying on imported solutions. Strengthening this capability positions universities as engines of innovation for emerging industries.”
Mpofu further argues that universities should take on leadership roles not just as educational institutions but as innovation ecosystems shaping the continent’s technological future. Realizing this vision, he says, depends on consistent policy support and long-term investment to sustain transformation.
Emerging Drone Technology Hubs Across Africa
Dr. Michael Scheibenreif, Regional Manager of UNICEF’s African Drone and Data Academy (ADDA) based in Malawi, acknowledges that African universities are beginning to recognize their potential to become drone-technology hubs. However, he underscores that such initiatives remain geographically limited.
Several universities have taken concrete steps to institutionalize drone research and training. In Algeria, the Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediene has launched training programs and formed collaborations with industry and government sectors. Similarly, Kenya’s University of Nairobi views drone technology as the next frontier to solve Africa-specific development challenges.
Notable initiatives include:
-
Zimbabwe’s Drone University: Recently became the first African institution licensed to train drone-maintenance technicians, marking a significant milestone in local capacity-building.
-
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana): Launched a Drone Innovation and Simulation Unit offering hands-on training to students and the public.
-
Botswana International University of Science and Technology: Established a drone assembly and testing center to support manufacturing and research.
-
Rwanda’s upcoming Drone Operation Centre: Scheduled to open by December 2026 to bolster drone manufacturing, testing, training, and R&D.
-
Malawi University of Science and Technology’s African Drone and Data Academy (ADDA): Operates with international faculty partners to provide advanced drone training.
-
Nelson Mandela University (South Africa): Runs a drone unit focused on workforce development and applied research.
-
University of South Africa’s Inhlanyelo Hub Drone Diva Programme: Unique initiative to empower women with skills in drone piloting and technology development.
Economic Opportunity in Africa’s Growing Drone Market
The global drone market is expanding rapidly, with projections indicating revenues nearing US$40.6 billion in 2025 and climbing to US$57.8 billion by 2030. Notably, the Middle East and Africa region is expected to be the fastest-growing market segment, with an annual growth rate of 15.4% from 2023 to 2030. Dr. Mosab Nouraldein Hamad, director of the Excellence Research Centre at Elsheikh Abdallah Elbadri University in Sudan, highlights these figures as evidence of the economic potential tied to Africa’s investment in drone technology.
“Building drone expertise locally not only strengthens Africa’s position in this growing industry but also promotes technological sovereignty by reducing reliance on imports and allowing customization to local environments,” says Professor Bouraoui Seyfallah of Algeria.
Furthermore, locally manufactured drones offer cost advantages, supply-chain autonomy, and enhanced national security by minimizing dependencies on foreign hardware and software. These benefits support broader continental goals of industrialization and value retention within Africa.
Challenges to Overcome
Despite exciting progress, African universities still face several barriers in scaling drone technology education and research.
Key challenges include:
-
Limited funding for research and development.
-
Insufficient access to advanced hardware such as high-powered computers, drones, and specialized software.
-
Regulatory uncertainty, particularly regarding drone operation and import restrictions on drone parts.
-
Lack of infrastructure and specialized training programs.
-
Insufficient integration of drone technology into multidisciplinary curricula beyond computer science.
Professor Suresh Muthukrishnan, director of the GIS and Remote Sensing Center at Furman University, United States, and co-creator of Malawi’s ADDA, stresses the need for strategic university leadership support and infrastructure development. He calls for integrating frontier technologies—drones, AI, nanotechnology, geospatial tools—into curricula accessible to all students, combined with project-based learning focused on local challenges.
To address these obstacles, experts recommend:
-
Strengthening partnerships among universities, governments, and the private sector.
-
Investing in incubators, specialized labs, and equipment.
-
Updating curricula to include drone engineering, data analytics, and applied geospatial sciences.
-
Promoting regional collaboration to share knowledge and resources.
-
Supporting low-cost local drone manufacturing to build a sustainable ecosystem.
Professor Mpofu notes that unclear regulations continue to slow practical testing and experimentation, while weak linkages between universities and industry hamper technology transfer and commercialization.
Looking Ahead: Building Africa’s Drone Technology Future
As African universities continue to expand into drone technology, their efforts are laying the groundwork for a vibrant and innovative technological sector with significant social and economic benefits. The combined focus on education, research, workforce development, and local manufacturing is essential to ensure drones contribute meaningfully to Africa’s development priorities, including food security, disaster preparedness, healthcare delivery, and environmental monitoring.
With sustained investment, clear policy frameworks, and collaborative networks, African universities can seize the opportunity to become global players in drone technology innovation while driving inclusive growth and sustainable development on the continent.
For further information, please contact University World News or the respective university programs mentioned in this article.
