The Connected Africa Summit 2025 officially opened on Monday in Diani, bringing together over
1200 delegates from 24 countries in a powerful show of global commitment to advancing Africa’s
digital transformation.
The four-day summit, running until Thursday, has drawn top government officials, private sector leaders, innovators, and policymakers to explore the next frontier of the continent’s digital future.
The high-level gathering began with a strong emphasis on follow-through and implementation, particularly of the Nairobi Declaration, which emerged from last year’s summit. In his opening
remarks, Stanley Kamanguya, CEO, ICT Authority of Kenya, underscored the significance of the
summit’s return and the weight of the conversations ahead.
“This is the second time we are converging at a continental level. The Connected Africa Summit has
kicked off in a big way,” said Kamanguya. “When you look at the attendance, it tells you that we
are attracting a lot of attention from around the world. This year, we are following up on the
Nairobi Declaration to assess progress, challenges, and opportunities for implementation.”
Key areas of focus during the summit include youth empowerment, given that 70 per cent of Africa’s
population is under 30 years old, scaling local innovations, harmonizing ICT policies across African
nations, and promoting digital inclusivity by addressing the internet access gap. Kamanguya
highlighted that the summit is not only expected to produce actionable policy recommendations but
also explore alternative financing strategies to drive digital infrastructure development across the
continent.
On her part, Cynthia Kropac – Safaricom’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, reiterated the company’s
focus on delivering seamless, intelligent, and inclusive digital experiences for people across Africa,
“At Safaricom Business, we remain firmly committed to driving Africa’s digital future—through
bold investments in connectivity, strategic partnerships, and the transformative power of artificial
intelligence. By fostering innovation and enabling access to digital solutions, the Business
continues to play a central role in unlocking socio-economic growth and empowering communities
across the continent.”
Another key highlight of the opening day was a keynote presentation by Eng. John Tanui, CBS
Principal Secretary, State Department for ICT and Digital Economy. His address, themed “Positioning
Kenya as Africa’s Next Hub for Outsourcing IT-Enabled Services (ITES),” explored Kenya’s ambition to
become a regional leader in digital services.
The first day also featured robust discussions on the future of work, artificial intelligence, the gig
economy, 5G and connectivity, climate tech solutions, and the critical need for digital public
infrastructure. These conversations are laying the groundwork for cross-sector collaborations that
could redefine Africa’s digital agenda.
Beyond the plenary sessions, the summit is showcasing African innovation through an Innovation
Village, where local startups and developers are displaying tech-driven solutions for real-world
challenges. A Smart Government Zone is also featured, highlighting digital transformation projects
from public sector institutions across Africa.
The summit is further amplifying inclusion efforts through a special Women in Tech session, aimed
at empowering African women to actively participate and lead in the digital economy.
With more than 2,000 participants expected by the end of the week, the Connected Africa Summit
2025 is positioned to be a milestone event in the continent’s pursuit of a digitally inclusive,
innovative, and interconnected future.