The Connected Summit was first held in 2009 as a public sector forum to nurture innovative ideas and partnerships that leverage technology to advance the achievement of Africa›s development agenda 2063. The inaugural event attracted 500 participants majorly who were from the public sector. The summit has been conducted for 13 years with an estimated cumulative participation of over 10,000 representatives from 50+ countries, 100+ international ICT firms and 50+ local ICT firms.
The Digital Journey: Vision to Reality
Event Impact
Summit Objectives
The objective of the continental summit was to bring together ICT leaders from Africa and beyond to shape the digital transformation journey for the continent. One of the outcomes of this Summit was the Nairobi Declaration which outlined seven (No.7) interventions required to strengthen collaboration for unified advancement of the digital agenda. The Declaration (attached for reference) was signed by the fourteen (No.14) African ICT Ministers present at the summit.
The Connected Africa 2025 Summit (CAS25) will be the 2nd edition of the Africa wide summit and 14th of the connect summit series. Building on the momentum of past editions, Connected Africa Summit 2025 will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, innovators and investors to chart actionable pathways for leveraging technology to address the continent›s challenges and unlock transformative opportunities.
The overall objective of the summit is “Creating business opportunities for growth”. The summit will therefore focus on providing a platform to local and regional innovators and businesses for growth. It will also provide an opportunity to review the progress of implementation of the Nairobi Declaration as well as discuss critical topics as outlined below.
Key Areas
The following are the key areas that we'll focus on during the summit
AI and Digital Transformation
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), and Big Data for government, industry, and society-wide impact
Green Tech
Innovations in renewable energy, smart agriculture, and circular economy practices to drive environmental and economic resilience
Digital Inclusion and Equity
Leveraging technology to close gaps in education, agriculture, and public services, while promoting gender, youth, and community inclusion
Sector-Specific Innovations
Focused solutions for EdTech, AgriTech, FinTech- digital assets/ e-commerce, and ManufacturingTech addressing Africa’s critical development priorities
Cross-Border Collaboration and Regional Integration
Creating digital platforms and policies that foster intra-African trade, digital markets, and technology partnerships to position Africa as a unified digital economy
Data and Cloud Infrastructure
Strengthening Africa’s capacity in secure data management and cloud services to underpin the continent’s digital transformation
Investment, Innovation, and Startup Ecosystems
Developing robust ecosystems for African tech startups, driving access to funding, markets, and mentorship opportunities to scale African solutions globally
Cybersecurity and Data Protection
Developing and ecosystem that addresses the cybersecurity challenges in the African continent
Speakers
The Connected Africa Summit brings together an exceptional lineup of distinguished speakers at the forefront of Africa's digital transformation. Led by H.E. William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, the summit features an influential assemblage of government leaders, policymakers, and technology innovators. From cabinet ministers and ambassadors to pioneering tech executives, these thought leaders will share their insights and expertise on driving digital innovation across the continent. Their collective experience and vision will shape crucial discussions on leveraging technology to accelerate Africa's economic growth and social development.
Hon. Musalia Mudavadi
Hon. Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi is a Kenyan politician and land economist who is currently serving as the Prime Cabinet Secretary of Kenya. He served as the 7th Vice-President of Kenya in 2002 and Deputy Prime Minister (2008–2012). During his MP of Sabatia, Hon Musalia Mudavadi established Sabatia Community Development Fund...
Hon. William Kabogo Gitau
Eng. John Tanui
The following sponsors of the Connected Africa Summit 2024 played a vital role in bringing together African tech leaders, policymakers, and investors for a groundbreaking event driving Africa's digital transformation. Their support was instrumental in fostering collaboration, innovation, and growth. As we prepare for the Connected Africa Summit 2025, we invite forward-thinking organizations to join us in shaping Africa's digital future and empowering lives through technology. Become a sponsor and be at the forefront of Africa's digital revolution!
Event Highlights
Glimpses from our previous edition