The Connected Africa Summit 2025 opened on Monday in Diani, bringing together over 1,200 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% of Africa’s population is under 30 years old, scaling local innovations, harmonizing ICT policies across African nations, and promoting digital exclusivity by addressing the internet access gap. Mr 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.
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Ms 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.
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