Leading minds in digital technology and Information Communications Technology on the African Continent was in Rwa nda’s capital Kigali attending an annual Transform Africa Summit. The summit which was officially opened by Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame kicked off with Inaugurate Africa Economic Forum bringing together entrepreneurs and innovators. In his opening remarks, Rwandan president who recently hosted the Africa Free Trade Area Agreement revealed the need for digital continental integration. “Technological co-integration should be seen as the vanguard of economic integration more generally.” Said, Paul Kagame – President of Rwanda. President Kagame added that there is a need for a political will for this transformation to thrive. “Political will is not confined to the public sector, I think business leaders need that political will as well because it comes with thinking and what you connect within the interest of our continent and our people.”
The summit that attracted over 4,000 delegates was also attended by heads of state and ministers from the ITU member states and the UN Broadband Commission. Speaking on behalf of the UNDP the Regional Director Lamin Manneh emphasized the need to expand ICT to make it a key driver for transformation in Africa. “Excellences, ladies, and gentlemen, our collective journey towards the achievement of the global agenda 2030 and African Union’s agenda 2063 which are deliberately ambitious and transformative have now been placed on the accelerated trajectory. The continental Free Trade Area Agreement is one of the African integration flagship projects to deliver Africa’s aspirations.” Said, Lamin Manneh – Regional Director, UNDP.
According to the Executive Director of Smart Africa, the conveners of the summit Dr. Hammadoun Toure, Africa has huge potential for investment if a digital market is created estimated at 300 billion dollars. “Our leaders are envisioning one single digital market where borders do not matter anymore, where policy and regulation gap has been bridged, where citizens, businesses, and governments can transact cross-borders and there are conditions of fair competition and data protection. While Africa can as a block attach large-scale investment for a continental-wide business opportunity. Our estimate is 300 billion dollars opportunities in Africa in the ICT alone in the next five years.” Said, Dr. Hammadoun Toure – Executive Director, Smart Africa Secretariat. The Transform Africa Summit not only sums up Africa’s digital revolution but also paves way for a more versatile continent in terms of technological advancements and a digitalized economy.
