The artificial intelligence revolution could trigger one of the biggest redistributions of economic power in history, creating new opportunities for wealth, entrepreneurship and influence, Tim Akano, Chief Executive Officer of New Horizons Nigeria, has said.
Akano made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at the Women Entrepreneurs & Executives in Tech Summit & Awards (WEETS) 2026, themed “From Innovation to Impact: Women Leading the AI-Driven Future.”
He said the economic impact of AI would extend beyond technological innovation, as companies, entrepreneurs and countries that control AI infrastructure, data, platforms and intellectual property could gain greater influence over the global economy.
“The question is not whether the revolution will happen; it has already happened. The question is who will own a piece of it?” Akano said.
He compared the AI revolution with previous technological transformations, including the Agrarian Revolution, industrialisation and the information and communications technology revolution, which he said created new centres of economic power.
According to him, AI is now creating another opportunity for businesses and individuals to reposition themselves within the global economic order.
However, Akano warned that technological progress would not automatically translate into equal participation, particularly for women.
Citing figures from Forbes’ 2026 billionaire list, he said women accounted for 481 of the world’s 3,428 billionaires, representing about 14 per cent.
He also referenced the 2026 Fortune Global 500, saying women occupied only 34 chief executive positions, equivalent to 6.8 per cent of the total.
Akano said the gender gap was also visible in the artificial intelligence labour market, citing LinkedIn research presented at the summit which showed that women accounted for 26 per cent of US hires into AI roles in 2025, compared with 50 per cent in non-AI occupations.
He warned that limited female representation in AI leadership could affect who makes decisions about technologies increasingly influencing business, healthcare, finance, education and government.
“If women are absent from the architecture of that infrastructure, then women will have less influence over the world that infrastructure creates,” he said.
Akano, however, said AI should not be viewed solely as a threat to employment, citing World Economic Forum estimates that labour-market transformation could create 170 million jobs and displace 92 million by 2030.
He urged entrepreneurs and professionals to focus on acquiring skills that would remain relevant as AI changes the nature of work.
These, he said, include artificial intelligence, big data, cybersecurity and technological literacy, alongside creativity, resilience, leadership and lifelong learning.
“AI is not necessarily coming for women. AI is coming for tasks,” Akano said.
He identified four levels of participation in the AI economy, user, operator, builder and owner, and challenged women to progress beyond consuming existing AI products to building and owning technology businesses and intellectual property.
“Use AI, Understand AI, Build with AI, then: Own what you build,” he said.
Turning to Africa, Akano highlighted an estimated $49 billion financing gap facing women entrepreneurs, arguing that the challenge extends beyond access to finance.
He said capital must be combined with technology, market access and intellectual property to enable women-led businesses to scale.
“Africa does not have a shortage of entrepreneurial women. Africa has a shortage of systems that turn women’s ideas into scalable assets,” he said.
Akano also pointed to Africa’s largely untapped data as a major opportunity for technology entrepreneurs.
He said gaps in data covering healthcare, agriculture, languages, consumer behaviour and financial activities could provide opportunities for businesses developing AI solutions tailored to local needs.
“The next major African AI company may not come from building another general-purpose chatbot. It may come from solving a problem that everyone else ignored,” he said.
He urged women entrepreneurs to focus on underserved problems and develop technology products capable of addressing specific African challenges.
Akano outlined five priorities for women seeking to benefit from the AI economy: developing data literacy, securing representation in AI decision-making, building technology startups, improving financing for women-led ventures and encouraging girls to pursue mathematics, engineering, robotics and AI.
He also challenged participants to adopt a 12-month action plan that includes learning an AI tool, redesigning an organisational process with AI, developing an AI-powered product or prototype, mentoring a younger woman and supporting at least one woman-led technology venture.
“Ecosystems are not built by speeches but by people helping other people move,” he said.
Earlier, Ugochi Emmanuel, convener of WEETS, described the summit as a growing platform designed to connect women across sectors, promote collaboration and equip them to respond to technological changes.
She said the event’s theme reflected the growing influence of AI on businesses, employment and everyday life, stressing that women should participate in developing and leading the technologies shaping the future.
Emmanuel highlighted the summit’s Advanced Digital Skills Bootcamp, which has trained young girls and women in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, web development, digital entrepreneurship and content creation.
She said New Horizons, under Akano’s leadership, hosted the two-day bootcamp free of charge.
The convener also called for greater support from businesses, government agencies, development partners and philanthropists to expand the programme, including plans to train more women, provide laptops and other digital tools, and strengthen mentorship and business-support initiatives.
She said participants at this year’s summit represented sectors including technology, finance, maritime, tourism, culture, media and entrepreneurship.
Emmanuel urged women to “learn, connect, collaborate, innovate” and translate technological opportunities into sustainable economic and social impact.