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
Innovation Awards
Recognizing Excellence in African Innovation for 13 years. The Innovation Awards are a key initiative designed to showcase groundbreaking technology solutions that contribute to Africa's digital transformation.
Submissions for the 2025 Innovation Awards are now closed. Join us at the summit to celebrate this year's winners!
Since 2011
The Connected Africa Summit has been a premier ICT event for 13 years
Over 110 Solutions
Recognized innovative ICT solutions across Africa
Digital Transformation
Shaping Africa's digital future through innovation
Award Categories
AgriTech
- Precision farming & smart agriculture
- Agri-fintech solutions
- Post-harvest & value addition technologies
GreenTech
- Renewable energy solutions
- Climate-smart technologies
- Sustainable tech innovations
Creative Economy
- Cultural heritage & tourism tech
- Gaming and eSports
- Animation & digital storytelling
AI & Cybersecurity
- AI-powered fraud detection & risk assessment
- Threat detection & response systems
- Secure digital payments & transaction monitoring
Eligibility Criteria
For the 2025 awards, applicants were required to meet the following criteria:
- Be a registered company
- Have a fully developed product/service in the market for at least 6 months
- Have Africans as end-users (can be delivered through a third-party organization)
Selection Process
- 1
Submission
All proposals submitted online for evaluation
- 2
Evaluation
A panel of experts reviews and scores submissions
- 3
Deliberation
The panel meets for 2-3 days to assess proposals
- 4
Awards Ceremony
Winners receive trophies during the Summit
Join Us to Celebrate Excellence in Innovation!
Be a part of the celebration as we honor this year's most innovative solutions at the Connected Africa Summit 2025 Awards Ceremony.
Witness Innovation Excellence
See firsthand the groundbreaking solutions that are transforming Africa's digital landscape.
Network with Innovators
Connect with the brightest minds and industry leaders driving Africa's technological advancement.
Be Inspired
Get inspired by the success stories of over 110 innovative solutions that have been recognized.
Keynote Address
Smart Teams - Building the Augmented Workforce
Panel Discussion
From Side Hustle to Scale-Up - Youth Entrepreneurship in the Age of AI & Gig Economy
The World Bank estimates that by 2025, 100 million Africans are expected to be part of the gig economy, tapping into entrepreneurship as a viable career path, especially for the youth. How can the youth monetise their skills and passion? What are the distinct challenges for young entrepreneurs in emerging markets? How can AI help? What digital tools and platforms are needed to scale and build these businesses?
Keynote Remarks
Policy as a Climate Tech Catalyst for Innovation
Panel Discussion
Beyond Buzzwords: Amplifying Disruptive Sustainability Tech
Climate tech attracts often superficial discussions that demand concrete solutions and accountability. This discussion focuses on the need to rapid, transformative change while underscoring technologies that can fundamentally drive the conversation and alter existing systems. Have we moved past projects into widespread deployment necessary for meaningful impact?
Keynote Remarks
5G and Beyond: Building Africa’s Future Tech Ecosystem
Panel Discussion
From 4G To 5G: The Challenges & Opportunities of Transitioning Africa’s Telecom Industry
The shift from 4G to 5G presents both massive opportunities and significant challenges for Africa’s telecom industry. Hurdles, such as spectrum allocation, financing 5G infrastructure, and navigating regulatory frameworks, as well as the steps needed to drive sustainable, inclusive 5G adoption across the continent, must be discussed. How can operators, regulators, and businesses manage this transition while ensuring that digital inclusion is not left behind?
Welcome Remarks | Special Remarks | Official Opening | Digital Jobs Report by KEPSA Launch
Keynote Address
Building The Rails For AI: Laying the Foundations for Africa’s Intelligent Economy
Panel Discussion
The Missing Link: Why Digital Infrastructure Must Come Before AI
Africa is experiencing a surge in interest around Artificial Intelligence (AI), but the continent risks building castles in the sky if it skips the groundwork: robust, inclusive, and accessible digital infrastructure. Without reliable connectivity, compute power, clean data pipelines, and energy resilience, AI can’t move from pilot to scale. This session makes a case for infrastructure-first thinking — exploring how fibre, data centres, cloud ecosystems, and energy access are non-negotiables if Africa is to have a meaningful seat at the AI table.
Keynote Address
Bridging The Digital Divide: Ensuring Equitable Access as a Constitutional Right
Panel Discussion
Infrastructure, Investment, And the Politics of Access: Who Pays for Africa’s Digital Revolution?
It’s one thing to agree that digital access is a right thing. It’s another way to figure out who will finance and build the networks to make it a reality. Igniting the debate around the economics and politics of digital infrastructure, this discussion asks; Should governments subsidize rural connectivity? Are telcos doing enough, or are they prioritising profits over people? What’s the role of Big Tech, public-private partnerships, and foreign investors? Unpack the complex tug-of-war between public good and commercial interests, and what will take to finally close the digital divide in Africa?
Remarks
Reimagining Public Sector Through AI & Digital Infrastructure
Panel Discussion
What Does It Take to Build An AI-Ready Public Sector?
AI holds transformative potential for government — from predictive policymaking to automating service delivery. But becoming “AI-ready” is not just about tools or buzzwords. It requires deep cultural, structural, and infrastructural shifts within the public sector. This panel brings together minds that will unpack what AI readiness really looks like — and what it takes to get there.
Remarks
The Infrastructure of Trust: AI, Data & Digital Governance
Panel Discussion
Controlling Data: Africa's Path to Digital Independence
As we become increasingly aware of the value of our data and the need to protect it, so is the rise of data sovereignty. It gives African states control over collection, storage and use within borders even as laws and regulations emerge. Data sovereignty is vital for national security, economic development and the protection of citizen’s privacy.
Remarks
The Cloud Advantage: Unlocking Scalable Growth for Africa’s Digital Future
Panel Discussion
Edge of Innovation: How Computing Can Transform Africa’s Connectivity & Service Delivery
Edge computing offers a game-changing solution to connectivity and service delivery challenges, especially in remote and underserved areas. Unpack how edge computing can localise data processing, reduce latency, and support critical sectors like health, finance, agriculture, and education. Explore infrastructure investments and public-private collaboration needed to unlock the full potential of edge.
Remarks
Cybersecurity By Design: Embedding Trust into Digital Infrastructure
Panel Discussion
AI On Both Sides: Fighting Cybercrime With AI Agents
Cybercriminals are no longer lone actors with malware kits — they’re now deploying sophisticated AI-driven attacks that adapt, learn, and evolve. But the defenders are also armed: AI agents, trained on massive datasets, are becoming frontline protectors in digital infrastructure. There is an escalating arms race where AI is both the sword and the shield — and Africa is fast becoming a critical front.
Remarks
Africa’s Leap: IoT Driven Infrastructure for A Connected Continent
Panel Discussion
Smarter Systems, Better Cities: Unleashing IoT for Infrastructure That Works
Africa’s urban centers are growing fast — but infrastructure often struggles to keep up. Enter IoT. From traffic flow optimization to smart waste collection, connected sensors and intelligent systems can radically improve how cities function. IoT can be used to build cities that are not just bigger, but smarter, safer, and more responsive to citizen needs. What does it take to design IoT-enabled infrastructure that thrives in African environments? How can we avoid creating “smart” systems that exclude the very people they’re meant to serve?
Remarks
Last Mile Infrastructure Financing
Panel Discussion
Alternative Innovative Financing Models for the Last Mile
While national backbones and urban centers often receive investment, the "last mile" remains a major barrier to inclusive digital access. This panel will explore innovative financing models, public-private partnerships, policy incentives, and community-driven solutions that can close the digital divide and unlock economic potential at the grassroots level.
Keynote Address: Women In Tech: From The Backend To The Boardroom
Despite growing representation, many women in tech still face the "sticky floor" and the "glass ceiling." How can women across Africa’s tech ecosystem break through both — moving from coding and engineering roles into leadership, strategy, and influence? It’s not just about gender equity — it’s about leveraging diverse thinking to drive better business, innovation, and social outcomes. What does it take to thrive, lead, and change the game when you’re the “first,” the “only,” or the “few?”
Panel Discussion: Securing Her Space: Advancing Online Safety & Cybersecurity Leadership
From cyberstalking and doxxing to gendered disinformation and algorithmic bias, online spaces can be disproportionately hostile to women — especially those in public-facing or leadership roles. Meanwhile, the cybersecurity industry itself remains male-dominated, despite the growing demand for diverse talent and leadership. This powerful panel brings together women who are actively reshaping the cybersecurity landscape — not only defending their own digital presence but also building safer online environments for others and rising as leaders in cyber defense, policy, and innovation.
Keynote Address: Protecting Africa’s Digital Infrastructure In Times of Conflict
As digital infrastructure becomes the backbone of Africa’s economies, education systems, governance, and healthcare — it is increasingly vulnerable during periods of political unrest, cyber warfare, and regional conflict. The new battlefield is one of bytes and bandwidth, where disruptions can halt vital services, destabilize economies, and erode trust in public institutions. From safeguarding national data centres and critical communications to protecting digital identity systems, how can African nations build resilient, secure, and sovereign digital ecosystems — even in times of crisis?
Panel Discussion: Harmonising Regulatory Frameworks Towards One Digital Africa
As Africa races toward digital transformation, fragmented regulatory environments continue to pose a major barrier to cross-border collaboration, innovation, and scale. What does it take to create cohesive, future-ready policies that align across countries—enabling a truly integrated digital economy? There is room for data protection, telecom licensing, and spectrum management as well as FinTech, e-commerce, and digital ID interoperability. But Africa must tackle real-world challenges with real-life solutions to achieve a unified regulatory ecosystem.
Keynote Address: Reimagining Education Through Technology, Data & AI
Africa’s youth population is booming, the need to transform education systems has never been more urgent — or more possible. Be it from smart content delivery to predictive insights for policy, examining outdated models of education invites a bold new vision: inclusive, adaptive, tech-enabled learning ecosystems. The kind that works for every African child, regardless of geography or income.
Panel Discussion: The Learning Gap: Can Technology Deliver Equity In Education?
Despite the promise of technology to revolutionize education, equity remains an ongoing challenge. What is the reality of bridging the educational divide in Africa — where millions still lack access to quality education due to infrastructural and socio-economic barriers? Despite a blend of insights on policy, technology, and local initiatives, are we ready to critically assess how emerging technologies can address the disparities in access, quality, and outcomes? Even more importantly, can AI, online platforms, and digital tools provide scalable, affordable solutions? Or are we merely increasing the divide between the tech-haves and tech-have-nots?
Keynote Address: Using Technology To Unlock African Value
Africa’s potential is vast, yet much of its value — whether in agriculture, natural resources, manufacturing, or human capital — remains untapped. How can blockchain ensure transparency in trade to AI driving data-driven decisions in agriculture? Africa can not only leverage global tech trends but can shape them to meet her unique needs, fostering homegrown solutions that can unlock immense value across sectors.
Panel Discussion: The Business Of AgriTech: Profit, Scale & Impact In Africa’s Food Systems
Africa’s agri-food systems are at a tipping point, with technology and innovation offering the promise of transformation. The discussion will uncover what it takes to build profitable AgriTech businesses that impact smallholder farmers, improve food security, and scale across the continent. Poised to revolutionize the sector, the question remains: how do we balance profit, scale, and impact in a rapidly evolving market? What are the sustainable growth opportunities in AgriTech, while also addressing the key challenges — such as financing, scalability, and access to markets — that are necessary for creating a robust, resilient food system?
Positioning Kenya as Africa’s Next Hub for Outsourcing IT-Enabled Services (ITES)
Kenya, renowned as a regional economic and technological leader, is strategically positioned to emerge as Africa’s premier hub for outsourcing IT-enabled services (ITES). With a vibrant digital economy, growing talent pool, improving infrastructure, and favorable regulatory frameworks, Kenya presents substantial opportunities to attract global investments and partnerships in the ITES sector.
Remarks
FinTech 2.0: Building Financial Services That Work for Everyone
Panel Discussion
Beyond Payments: The Next Frontier of FinTech in Africa
While mobile payments have been a game-changer for financial inclusion in Africa, the next frontier of FinTech is about more than just enabling transactions. It’s about unlocking new financial ecosystems that support lending, insurance, investment, and savings, especially for the unbanked and underbanked. Explore the innovative FinTech 2.0 solutions emerging across the continent, going beyond payments to transform the entire financial ecosystem — one that is inclusive, secure, and sustainable.
Keynote Address: Digital Care: How Technology Is Shaping Access, Care & Delivery
Africa’s healthcare systems face persistent challenges — from understaffed hospitals to fragmented services and limited rural access. But technology is rewriting the script. Telemedicine and AI-powered diagnostics to digital health records, wearable monitoring, and mobile health apps, Africa’s leapfrogging moment in digital health is unfolding. But while the potential is massive, questions around equity, infrastructure, policy, and data privacy remain.
Panel Discussion: AI In Healthcare: From Diagnosis To Delivery
From interpreting scans in seconds to optimizing medication supply chains, AI is becoming a silent partner in Africa’s healthcare transformation. AI-powered tools are being used across the entire care continuum—from early diagnostics to clinical decision support, drug discovery, and personalised care—all while tackling real African challenges like workforce shortages and rural access. But while technology is promising, implementation is everything. How do we ensure these innovations are accurate, equitable, and explainable? And how can African innovators build AI solutions that reflect local health realities, languages, and data contexts?
Keynote Address: Building Borderless Supply Chains: Using IoT, AI, & Blockchain to Revolutionise African Trade & Logistics
As Africa moves towards greater regional integration with initiatives like AfCFTA, the need for transparent, efficient, and agile supply chains has never been more critical. Digital technologies are dismantling traditional barriers, enabling real-time visibility across supply chains, optimising logistics in complex terrains, and simplifying cross-border trade processes. From IoT-enabled tracking of goods to AI-powered demand forecasting and blockchain-backed trade compliance, discover how digital solutions are creating a future where African supply chains are not only resilient but globally competitive.
Panel Discussion: The Future Workforce: Upskilling, Safety, & Human-Robot Collaboration
As the manufacturing sector accelerates toward Industry 4.0, the workforce must evolve alongside the technologies reshaping production floors. This panel brings together thought leaders and technology innovators to discuss how Africa can prepare its workers for a future defined by robotics, smart factories, and real-time operational intelligence. Let us explore strategies for upskilling at scale, embracing human-robot collaboration, and using wearable tech and data-driven safety systems to protect and empower workers.
Keynote Address: Building The Backbone: Fibre Data Sharing Models & Regional Harmonisation for Seamless Connectivity
Fibre optic networks play a critical role in regional connectivity, focusing on how to establish robust data-sharing models that enable cooperation across borders. Enter the importance of harmonising regulations, standards, and infrastructure investments to unlock the full potential of fibre.
Panel Discussion: Driving Last-Mile Access: Harnessing Complementary Access Networks & Innovative Spectrum Strategies
What are the strategies around closing the connectivity gap in underserved areas? How can last-mile access be enabled through complementary networks? How can public-private partnerships and regional collaboration expand reach and affordability?
Keynote Address: From The Founder’s Mouth: Scaling An African Tech Business
What does it really take to build a successful tech company in Africa—from idea to scale? In this no-holds-barred session, Ken Njoroge, the trailblazing co-founder of Cellulant, shares the untold stories, lessons, and hard-won insights from his entrepreneurial journey building one of Africa’s most iconic fintechs. Leading by navigating pan-African regulation, building resilient teams, and securing funding from global investors to weathering crises and scaling operations across multiple countries—Ken breaks down what it means to create value, impact, and sustainability in Africa’s complex tech environment.
Panel Discussion: Building Sustainable Technology Companies
Africa doesn’t just need more tech start-ups — it needs sustainable tech businesses that can weather storms, serve real needs, and create long-term value. This panel will bring together founders, investors, and ecosystem enablers to unpack what it means to build tech companies that last. Be it securing the right kind of capital, building resilient teams, and maintaining regulatory agility, to embedding purpose, governance, and community alignment—this conversation will go beyond hype to explore what truly drives endurance, trust, and impact in African innovation.
Keynote Address: Realising The Smart County: Local Innovation For Inclusive Digital Transformation
What does it take to transform counties into digitally empowered, citizen-first economies? The bold vision of building Smart Counties that leverage technology, data, and innovation to deliver better governance, efficient service delivery, and inclusive economic growth at the grassroots lives on. E-services and smart infrastructure alongside data-driven decision-making help leapfrog challenges by investing in local tech ecosystems, public-private partnerships, and digital upskilling.
Panel Discussion: Decentralising Innovation: How ICT Is Empowering Local Governance
As counties and municipalities face increasing pressure to deliver faster, smarter services, decentralised ICT solutions are emerging as revolutionary. Technology is shifting power closer to the people—enabling responsive leadership, localised innovation, and data-driven governance. Digital platforms for public services, open data for citizen accountability, and local tech ecosystems are solving real community issues. Transformation is happening outside capital cities, and the spotlight is on local government.
Overview
The momentum for developing and scaling assistive technology (AT) has been rising in Africa but there still remains a ripe chance of accelerating this growth to a pace needed to meet the substantial market need. We can add to the efforts that both government and private sector are making to include universal designs and products in mainstream market by creating awareness of the investability of AT innovations and start-ups in Africa.
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!
Showcase your brand at the 14th Annual Connected Africa Summit 2025 with our premium exhibition opportunities. The summit offers sponsors flexible booth options to maximize visibility and engagement with attendees. Choose from standardized shell scheme booths ranging from 6 sq.m ($3,600) to 18 sq.m ($11,000), each including event access tickets, or elevate your presence with a fully customized booth tailored to your brand's unique identity and goals. Our strategically positioned exhibition spaces provide the perfect platform to display your products, connect with a targeted audience, and create lasting impressions that align with your vision in this premier African technology summit.
Event Highlights
Glimpses from our previous edition