How Connected Africa Summit 2025 Plans to Bridge Africa’s Digital Divide

Ministers and African stakeholders, led by H.E. Hon. William Kabogo Gitau, joined forces to push forward Africa’s digital transformation at the 14th Connected series and 2nd Connected Africa Summit. Building on the 2024 Nairobi Declaration, the Connected Africa Summit 2025 called for scaling up from map-level planning to large-scale implementation, Agenda 2063, and the UN Digital Global Compact.

Setting Up of Connected Africa Secretariat

A key finding of the summit was the design of a Connected Africa Secretariat, a continental coordinating body charged with the implementation and monitoring of the digital initiatives. The Secretariat will help collaborate with Governments and the private sector and track progress on the continent’s digital initiatives.

Fast-Tracking a Single African Digital Market

The summit underscored the accelerating establishment of the Single African Digital Market. These initiatives promote harmonized legislation, allow cross-border digital services, and empower regional economies from the evolution of the Digital Transformation Strategy of the African Union (2020–2030). The overall objective is unifying the digital marketplace in Africa and in turn fostering trade and innovation without impediments.

Priority Areas to Accelerate Africa’s Digital Transformation

Connected Africa Summit 2025 pointed out several priority areas that needed to be addressed for sustaining a digital development environment:

• AI, Data Sovereignty, and Cloud Infrastructure: Ensure Africa’s control over its data, AI training pipeline, and cloud systems; in essence, ensuring digital sovereignty.
• Green and Sustainable Innovation: Get into scaling up eco-friendly digital solutions, circular economy practices, and climate-smart technologies that would protect the environment.
• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and e-Governance: Build platforms that are safe, open, and inclusive with which public services can be delivered digitally.
• Digital Skills and EdTech: Widen access to digital learning platforms, such as RESPECT, and open channels of employment for the youth in emerging sectors.
• Support for Digital Industries: Advanced FinTech 2.0, HealthTech, EdTech, and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sectors for job creation and export expansion.
• Digital Infrastructure and Connectivity: Speeding the deployment of 5G, cross-border fiber highways, and mobilizing Universal

• Semiconductors and Digital Manufacturing: Prioritizing local production of smart devices, semiconductors, and green electronics to boost industrial capacity.

• Energy Access and E-Waste Management: Developing sustainable power systems for ICT growth and strengthening e-waste recycling value chains.

Ministerial Actions and Next Steps

Following the summit, certain ministerial actions were proposed as a catalyst for Africa’s digital transformation:

• Regional Digital Platforms: Establish regional digital platforms so that regional policies, partnerships, and priorities can be aligned.
• Legislative Harmonization: Harmonize legislations on cybersecurity, telecommunication tariffs, data governance, and digital trade among African countries.
• Continental Needs Assessment and Digital Marketplace: Undertake continental mapping of digital readiness and match home-grown solutions against national and regional requirements.
• Capacity Building and Innovation Network: Invest in research centers and centers of excellence and in cross-border training in emerging technologies.

Closing Remarks and Signatories

The declaration was read during the closing ceremony on behalf of the Ministerial Roundtable by:

• Ms. Linda Nandjila Nakale (Director, Namibia)
• Dr. Charity Basaza Mulenga (Communications Commission, Uganda)
• Maama Seiwoh Koroma Mini (Director General, National Communications Authority, Sierra Leone)

Conclusion: A Pivotal Moment for Africa’s Digital Future

Connected Africa Summit 2025 is indeed a critical step for the continent’s digital ambitions. The summit creates conditions to interact collaboratively, foster innovation, and promote sustainable development for a united and prosperous digital future across the continent. The transformation will bring about economic opportunities, job creation, and enhanced public service delivery to millions of Africans.

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