Kayode Jacob Otulana, Taiwo Sunday Joy, Elizabeth Dennis, and Deborah Henry
Abstract
Africa is entering a decisive phase of digital transformation in which economic competitiveness and national security will increasingly depend on cyber-physical systems : integrated architectures that connect sensors, machines, communication networks, data platforms, artificial intelligence, and physical infrastructure. While most African digital economy discussions emphasize broadband, mobile payments, fintech, and e-government, the next productivity frontier will be shaped by CPS models deployed across energy, transport, ports, agriculture, manufacturing, health, water, and security systems. This manuscript develops a business and finance-oriented framework for understanding CPS as investable infrastructure, not merely as engineering technology. The study positions CPS as a platform model that can improve operational efficiency, reduce losses, strengthen critical infrastructure protection, create high- value employment, deepen regional value chains, and enhance sovereign decision-making. Drawing on digital transformation, cybersecurity, industrial organization, platform economics, resilience theory, and national security literature, the paper proposes a CPS Economic-Security Value Model that links CPS readiness, sector deployment, investment structure, security maturity, and macroeconomic value creation. Seven figures are used to illustrate the CPS ecosystem, sector value potential, layered model architecture, readiness maturity, business model canvas, implementation roadmap, and risk heatmap. The analysis argues that African countries should avoid treating CPS as isolated procurement projects. Instead, CPS should be governed as strategic national infrastructure supported by data centers, digital twins, cyber ranges, interoperable standards, trusted procurement, skilled human capital, and public-private financing. The paper concludes that countries capable of building CPS capabilities will be better positioned to industrialize, protect critical assets, retain digital value, and export cyber-physical intelligence services within the African Continental Free Trade Area.
References
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