Online Reporter
Bheki Ndlovu
Eunice Nduta Kamau, an independent technology and policy expert based in the United States, is raising a critical alarm about the trajectory of quantum computing and its potential to reshape — and in some cases destabilize — the technological landscape of the Global South.
As one of the co-authors of the peer-reviewed paper “The Future of Quantum Computing: A Review of Potential Impacts on IT Industry” published in the International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Growth Evaluation, Eunice Kamau contributes to a comprehensive analysis of quantum computing’s revolutionary capabilities and the profound implications they carry.
While much of the global discourse on quantum computing focuses on competition between major economic powers such as the United States, China, and members of the European Union, Ms Kamau emphasizes that developing nations stand at a critical crossroads: without proactive engagement, they risk being sidelined in one of the most consequential technological shifts of the century.
When I headhunted Ms Kamau for this interview, her message was immediate and unambiguous: “The Global South cannot afford to be a spectator in the quantum era. The implications — economic, political, and social — are too profound to ignore.” She spoke with the urgency of someone who has studied the field deeply, and her perspective brought the paper’s findings into sharp focus.
The paper on which Eunice Kamau collaborated describes quantum computing as a paradigm shift made possible by the use of quantum bits, or qubits, which unlike classical bits can exist in multiple states simultaneously through the principles of superposition and entanglement.
This property allows quantum computers to process vast amounts of data in parallel, promising exponential gains in computational speed for certain classes of problems. The research outlines potential applications in fields such as cryptography, optimization, machine learning, and complex system simulations.
For the Global South, these capabilities could be transformative. In agriculture, quantum-powered modeling could optimize crop yields in the face of climate change by simulating soil conditions, weather patterns, and pest behavior at an unprecedented scale.
In healthcare, quantum algorithms could accelerate drug discovery, improve disease outbreak prediction, and enable personalized treatment models tailored to regional genetics and environmental factors. Infrastructure development could benefit from optimization algorithms that stretch limited resources, improving efficiency in transportation networks, energy grids, and water distribution systems.
However, Ms Kamau cautions that the same computational power that offers these opportunities also poses existential risks to the digital infrastructure of developing nations. One of the most immediate threats identified in the paper is the vulnerability of widely used encryption methods such as RSA and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC).
These classical algorithms secure everything from banking transactions to government communications, but they could be rendered obsolete by quantum algorithms such as Shor’s, which can factor large integers exponentially faster than the best-known classical methods.
For many Global South economies, where the rollout of modern encryption has been gradual and where cybersecurity budgets are constrained, the danger is acute. “If we do not act before large-scale quantum systems are operational, the consequences for data security could be catastrophic,” she said during our discussion. “This is not a risk that can be managed reactively.”
Eunice Kamau points to the urgent need for migration toward post-quantum cryptography — encryption methods designed to resist quantum attacks — as a critical defensive step.
Yet, she notes that the adoption of such measures is uneven globally, with many developing countries lacking the technical expertise, financial resources, or policy frameworks to initiate large-scale upgrades.
This, she argues, is where strategic planning and international cooperation become essential. “Planning for the quantum shift must start now,” she told me, “because the cost of catching up later will be far greater than the cost of preparing today.”
Beyond the security implications, Ms Kamau stresses that the structural barriers to quantum participation for the Global South are substantial.
Quantum hardware is notoriously demanding, often requiring extreme cooling environments, precision manufacturing, and specialized materials — all of which are beyond the current industrial capacity of most developing nations. Furthermore, expertise in quantum algorithm development, error correction, and systems integration remains concentrated in a small number of advanced research institutions, predominantly in the Global North.
This imbalance risks creating a dependency model where countries in the Global South become consumers of quantum services developed and controlled elsewhere, with little influence over the technology’s design, priorities, or pricing.
She warns that such dependency could deepen existing digital inequalities, mirroring — and potentially surpassing — the dynamics of previous technological divides.
“Quantum computing could be the great equalizer if we get it right, or it could be the next frontier of digital colonialism if we get it wrong,” Ms Kamau said. Without deliberate investment in quantum literacy, policy readiness, and research capacity, the benefits of the technology will accrue primarily to countries that are already technological leaders, while others remain locked into subordinate roles.
The review paper also underscores the need for targeted capacity building within universities and research centers in the Global South. Eunice Kamau envisions programs that integrate quantum computing concepts into computer science and engineering curricula, coupled with scholarships, industry partnerships, and access to cloud-based quantum platforms.
Such measures could begin to seed a new generation of engineers, cryptographers, and data scientists capable of engaging with the quantum frontier. Public-private partnerships could play a pivotal role here, allowing governments to leverage the resources and expertise of global technology firms while safeguarding national interests.
For Ms Kamau, early action is not only about catching up but about shaping the direction of quantum development in ways that reflect the priorities of the Global South. She points to potential collaborations between African, Asian, and Latin American research institutions as a means of pooling resources, sharing expertise, and building bargaining power in global standard-setting bodies.
The paper’s conclusion emphasizes that inclusive participation in quantum research networks will be essential for ensuring that the technology addresses diverse challenges, from food security to climate adaptation, rather than being narrowly optimized for the commercial and strategic interests of a few nations.
Ethical considerations also feature prominently in Ms Kamau’s perspective. The review notes that quantum technologies must be developed with an eye toward equitable access, transparency in algorithm design, and environmental sustainability, particularly given the high energy demands of certain quantum hardware configurations.
Eunice Kamau argues that these considerations are even more pressing for developing nations, where environmental vulnerabilities and social inequalities are already acute. She advocates for a governance framework that includes voices from the Global South in discussions on ethical use, data protection, and cross-border regulation of quantum technologies.
Her message is ultimately one of both caution and opportunity. The quantum computing revolution is not a distant prospect; advances by companies such as IBM, Google, and Rigetti, along with national initiatives in countries like the United States and China, suggest that practical quantum advantage in certain domains could be achieved within the next decade.
For the Global South, this means the timeline for preparation is short. “We need to think about talent pipelines, infrastructure readiness, and security protocols now,” Ms Kamau told me. “If we wait until quantum technologies are mainstream, the gap will be too wide to close.”
Her warning is clear: the quantum future will not wait for those unprepared. Countries that hesitate risk ceding control over critical digital infrastructure, exposing themselves to new forms of cyber vulnerability, and forfeiting opportunities for innovation that could address some of their most pressing economic and social challenges.
But for those willing to engage now, Ms Kamau sees the potential for quantum technologies to become catalysts for inclusive growth, scientific advancement, and greater technological self-determination.
In her view, the stakes are nothing less than the future distribution of technological power. The decisions made today — in classrooms, government ministries, research labs, and international negotiation tables — will determine whether quantum computing deepens the global tech divide or helps to bridge it.
For Eunice Kamau, the path forward is clear: act early, act collaboratively, and ensure that the voices and interests of the Global South are embedded at the heart of the quantum revolution.
Colletta Dube