Interview with Dr Onkokame Mothobi
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Dr Onkokame Mothobi joined the Wits School of Governance as a Tayarisha Centre postdoctoral fellow in October 2022
Dr. Onkokame Mothobi holds a PhD with a focus on Industrial Organization- telecommunication market competition and regulation obtained from the University of Cape town, South Africa.
He also holds an MA in Economics (Econometrics and International Trade), BA Economics and Statistics, BSC (Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry); and BA Social Sciences all obtained from University of Botswana.
Zibusiso Manzini-Moyo interviewed Dr Mothobi.
ZMM: Tell us about your area/field of interest.
OM: My interests are in the competition and regulation of the telecom and digital markets. With particular interests in understanding the market structures and competition in the telecommunication and digital markets and how these markets impact issues relating to poverty, inequality, and inclusion. I am also interested in governance and political issues. More specifically, on issues relating to digitization of government, AI and Data governance and digital transformation.
ZMM: Why did you choose the field of study?
OM: I was interested in understanding how digitisation of markets and governments can change lives of the poor and those living in underdeveloped areas.
ZMM: What are some of the key discoveries you made in your work relating to societal challenges?
OM: Some of my findings point out to the fact that digital exclusion is explained by historical inequalities. The poor and the uneducated are more likely to be digitally excluded and as such digitisation may exacerbate the historical inequalities especially in South Africa. However, once the digital exclusion barrier has been overcome some of the gaps that existed between the poor and the rich disappears.
ZMM: Is there any community-based work that you have done or are doing?
OM: I am an advisor for different institutions including Research ICT Africa, where I provide advice relating to survey and data collection across African countries. I am also a member of digital economics society which collect quantitative and qualitative information relating to digitisation, AI and data governance issues which is shared publicly on social media platforms such as LinkedIn.
ZMM: What are your next goals?
OM: Publish some of my work in highly rated journals and submitting some significant grant applications that can allow for more research work that will contribute to the greater work being pursued at Tayarisha.
ZMM: Tell us about your experience thus far at Wits.
OM: My experience has been very great. The support from colleagues is very amazing. Wits is well resourced when it comes to infrastructure and other necessities that one requires to conduct research and that makes doing research in the institution very friendly.