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Tag: Africa Summit

  • Tourism and technology summit 2024 spotlights innovation in Africa

    Tourism and technology summit 2024 spotlights innovation in Africa

    Policymakers have been advised to integrate technology into Africa’s tourism industry to drive growth, efficiency, and global competitiveness. This was the key message at the 5th edition of the Tourism and Technology Summit Africa, held on December 12, 2024, at the Lagos Oriental Hotel. 

    Themed “Bridging Borders, Breaking Barriers: Transforming Tourism in Africa Through Technology,” the summit brought together tourism stakeholders, technology experts, and policymakers to explore how digital innovations can reshape Africa’s tourism landscape.

    Read also: Nairobi to host 7th annual Africa Tech Summit in 2025 

    Technology as a catalyst for tourism

    Founder of My Beautiful Africa, Clara Chinwe Okoro, emphasised the importance of integrating technology into tourism processes to streamline operations and attract global visitors. She noted that tourism remains a political issue and urged policymakers to protect their national interests to ensure sustainable development in the sector.

    The summit also highlighted gaps in policy frameworks that hinder the growth of Africa’s tourism industry. SaintGerman Onwukeme, CEO of Cyberton Ads, stressed the need for customer-friendly policies that encourage innovation and enhance traveler experiences. He emphasised that addressing these challenges is crucial for boosting the sector’s competitiveness and accessibility.

    Innovations for seamless travel

    One of the event’s key highlights was the introduction of the Seamless Visa application, a solution designed to simplify cross-border travel processes within Africa. Amb. Cornelius Udofia, Special Adviser on Media to the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, showcased the innovation as a game-changer for intra-African tourism, removing barriers that have historically discouraged travel across the continent.

    Read also: Africa’s top tech startups honored at AfricArena

    The summit featured a series of panel discussions and showcases that explored emerging technologies, including digital platforms, smart tourism solutions, and improved connectivity infrastructure. Stakeholders discussed how these tools could address existing challenges, such as travel logistics, accessibility, and infrastructure gaps.

    By fostering collaboration among policymakers, industry leaders, and technology innovators, the summit underscored the need for a unified approach to transforming Africa’s tourism sector.

    The Tourism and Technology Summit Africa 2024 successfully provided a platform for stakeholders to identify actionable strategies for growth. As Africa embraces digital transformation, the summit reinforced the critical role of technology and policies in bridging borders, breaking barriers, and positioning the continent as a global tourism leader.

  • ICT University announces 2025 ICT for Africa Summit theme: “Digital Renaissance”

    ICT University announces 2025 ICT for Africa Summit theme: “Digital Renaissance”

    The ICT University has officially announced its highly anticipated 2025 ICT for Africa Summit and Conference theme: “Digital Renaissance: Access, Innovation, and Inclusion”.

    The event, scheduled to take place from July 21-25, 2025, in Yaoundé, Cameroon, will focus on leveraging digital transformation to redefine Africa’s future by improving access to technology, fostering innovation, and promoting inclusivity across the continent.

    Read also: African Union ECOSOCC, EESC present joint declaration at UN Summit of the Future

    The 2025 conference will tackle critical issues, including expanding digital infrastructure to connect underserved regions, empowering entrepreneurs to develop cutting-edge technological solutions, and promoting inclusion by ensuring marginalised groups have the tools to thrive in the digital economy.

    Thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, and stakeholders from Africa and beyond are invited to participate in this pivotal dialogue on shaping Africa’s digital future.

    Highlights from ICT for Africa 2024

    The 2024 ICT for Africa Conference, themed “Digital Transformation: Current Trends and Future Insights,” was held from July 15 to 20, 2024, in Yaoundé. The event, organised by the ICT University, focused on accelerating Africa’s digital transformation through discussions on youth leadership, AI, and social media’s impact on progress.

    Read also: Nigerian Fintech Festival hosts inaugural edition in Lagos

    Notable keynote speakers included President Olusegun Obasanjo, President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, and President Paul Biya. The conference featured workshops on coding, AI, cybersecurity, and blockchain, drawing a wide range of tech innovators and entrepreneurs. Key highlights included an AI in healthcare panel and awards for outstanding research in ICT.

    The upcoming 2025 Summit builds on these foundations, emphasising the need to ensure digital access, foster innovation, and enhance inclusivity across Africa. 

    For more information on the event or to get involved, visit ictforafrica.org.

  • Kenya prepares to host Transform Africa Summit

    Kenya prepares to host Transform Africa Summit

    The Transform Africa Summit 2024 will be held in Kenya in August 2024.  Kenya was chosen to host the summit organised by the Smart Africa Alliance, a pan-African organisation for information and communication technology, in February 2024.

    The country’s prominence as a leader in Africa’s digital revolution was further cemented when it won the bid to host the event.

    Why Kenya got the bid to hold Transform Africa Summit 2024

    The news was announced in February at the 2024 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. With dates set for August 28th through the 30th, 2024, Nairobi will host this pivotal event organised by the Smart Africa Alliance, a pan-African ICT (Information and Communication Technology) agency.

    Read also: Africa Cloud And Security Summit, Nigeria to discuss cyber threats in Africa

    The victory is evidence of Kenya’s rising status as an ICT superpower. There has been a lot of progress in the country regarding mobile penetration, financial technology innovation, and creating a thriving tech startup scene. Having TAS-2024 in Kenya is an excellent opportunity for the country to show off its innovations to people worldwide.

    More than five thousand people, including African and international business moguls, government officials, and tech pioneers, will attend the summit. There will be in-depth debates among attendees about how to speed up digital transformation on the continent.

    This involves investigating issues like lowering the cost of internet access and making it more widely available, using information and communication technologies to promote economic and social progress and encouraging entrepreneurial spirit and technological innovation.

    How Kenya received the offer

    The digital economy, information and communications, and Kenya’s cabinet secretary, Eliud Owalo, were excited to host the summit. To him, it’s a chance to work with other African countries to build a better digital future for Africa and to share what Kenya has learned.

    It’s great news for Kenya and Africa that their bid to host TAS-2024 was successful. The summit is expected to be pivotal in propelling digital inclusion and ensuring long-term economic growth throughout Africa.

    On Wednesday, representatives from the country’s technology and communications sectors gathered for a soft launch hosted by the Kenya Communications Authority (CA) to discuss the summit’s anticipated outcomes and their implications.

    To discuss ways to promote innovation, cooperation, and sustainable development throughout Africa, the Summit is anticipated to gather over five thousand delegates from around the globe.

    Eliud Owalo, Kenya’s Information and Communications Technology Cabinet Secretary attended Wednesday’s event and reaffirmed the government and ministry’s dedication to increasing innovation in the country and using the Summit to open more doors for Kenyans.

    According to Owalo, our nation is fully prepared to host this significant summit. He promised that his country would not take the hosting rights for granted but instead view them as an opportunity to prove itself worthy of the Summit’s delegates and the positive impact it would have on the nation moving forward.

    Read also: Kenya unveils groundbreaking green mobility policy

    As a member of Smart Africa, Mary Mungai, CBS, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Kenya Communications Authority, stated that they can take advantage of the Transform Africa Summit as a crucial platform for regulators and lawmakers to work together and accomplish their goals as a continent.

    According to CA Director General Mr David Mogonyi, Kenya and its people will be prominently featured at the forthcoming event. Mogonyi also mentioned that the event will pave the way for further innovations in Kenya.

    According to Mogonyi, they are excited about the future because they will be hosting regional regulators, lawmakers, and experts from all over the globe.

    The KICC will host the Transform Africa Summit 2024 from August 28th to the 30th this year.

  • South Africa to host 2nd Airbnb Africa Travel Summit

    South Africa to host 2nd Airbnb Africa Travel Summit

    The Airbnb Africa Travel Summit is poised to return for its second edition at the picturesque Victoria Yards in Johannesburg, spanning from October 23 to 24. The event, convened by Airbnb, will assemble a distinguished cohort of visionaries, tourism authorities, influencers, change agents, policymakers, and hosts hailing from across the African continent.

    Fostering a More Inclusive and Sustainable Tourism Future

    At the core of this gathering lies the mission to explore the synergies between travel and technology, catalysing a future of African tourism that is not only more inclusive but also environmentally sustainable.

    Airbnb has witnessed substantial growth in Kenya, catalysing a transformation in the hospitality industry. The platform’s increasing popularity has ushered in competitive dynamics with hotels and lodges, translating into a significant reduction in room prices and occupancy rates.

    Airbnb’s unique value proposition, offering affordable and distinctive accommodation choices to travellers, has left an indelible mark on the travel landscape. It has also emerged as the preferred choice for both group travellers and solo adventurers, offering accommodations ranging from apartments and houses to unconventional options like treehouses and even castles.

    Read also: Airbnb Introduces New Anti-Party Technology to fish out rule breakers

    Speaking about the Africa Travel Summit, Velma Corcoran, Regional Lead Middle East Africa at Airbnb, stressed the company’s role in empowering local families and communities to profit from tourism to Africa by utilising technology and innovation. In order to create a sustainable and inclusive tourism model that benefits all stakeholders, Corcoran emphasised the significance of collaborative discussions among industry actors, legislators, and change-makers.

    According to her, the summit  “…will bring together the leading thinkers from across the continent to discuss how we can leverage technology and innovation to empower more local families and their communities to benefit from African travel.

    We look forward to facilitating important discussions amongst industry, policymakers and changemakers to collaboratively build a sustainable and inclusive tourism model that benefits everyone.”

    The summit’s opening session will be graced by Patricia de Lille, South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, with the concluding keynote delivered by the acclaimed actress Zozibini Tunzi.

    Eazi Travels, An Online Travel Firm to Provide Digital Payment Solutions For Travelers

    The Nexus of Tourism and Technology

    Under the adept moderation of Afua Osei, co-founder of She Leads Africa, the event is poised to delve into discussions that revolve around the pivotal role of technology in steering inclusive and sustainable economic growth across the African continent. The summit’s agenda includes deliberations on how tourism and technology can continue to empower communities and stimulate economic development.

    Leaders from various spheres will converge to share their insights and experiences, shedding light on research findings and best practices. These discussions will revolve around how travel and technology can collaboratively shape a more inclusive and sustainable future. This inclusion would be vital for steering the post-pandemic recovery of the tourism sector.

    Juliette Langlais, Airbnb’s Director of Public Policy and Campaigns for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, alongside Anita Mendiratta, the Global Strategic Advisor on Tourism & Development, will lend their perspectives to the summit. Distinguished representatives from UNESCO and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) will also grace the occasion. Accompanying them will be champions of inclusivity, sustainability, and tech regulation.

    The program is meticulously crafted to ensure interactivity and experiential engagement. It encompasses a range of activities, including curated panel discussions, Change Maker sessions, and case study presentations.

    As the Airbnb Africa Travel Summit beckons, it promises to serve as a critical rendezvous for shaping the future of African tourism—one that is more accessible, sustainable, and economically empowering for the African continent and members of its communities.

  • Ethiopia to host Global Startup Awards Africa Summit

    Ethiopia to host Global Startup Awards Africa Summit

    The Global Innovation Initiative Group (GIIG) and the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) have made the announcement that the Global Startup Awards (GSA) Africa Summit will take place in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, during the month of October 2023.

    The annual GSA Africa Summit will be held at the Museum of Art and Science, which only recently opened its doors to the public. 

    The summit’s purpose is to bring together the African startup ecosystem and celebrate the exceptional achievements of startups, entrepreneurs, and innovators from all over the continent.

    Read also: Africa leads global fintech growth with 32% CAGR, $65 billion by 2030

    What this summit will do

    The summit will bring together important stakeholders in African innovation, including executives from industry, government, academia, and the wider ecosystem, to meet and connect with the continent’s leading technology solutions. 

    The conference will take place in South Africa. Here, start-up companies will have the option to take part in a series of solution exchange workshops. During these workshops, they will have the chance to network with industry professionals and investigate the possibility of forming new partnerships.

    The 15 regional finalists who have made it to this stage of the GSA Africa competition will be honoured at a gala dinner. As winners on the African continent, these start-ups will be rewarded for their outstanding contributions to addressing significant problems on a global scale. In addition to this, students will have the unique chance to interact with the GIIG Africa Fund, which will provide a route for possible financial investment in their capacity as future agents of change.

    Co-founder of GIIG, GSA speaks

    “Critically, we want this event to act as a spark for younger generations, to encourage them to explore the world of innovation as a promising career path. The African Development Bank projects that our continent’s youth population will more than double to 830 million by 2050. This means that an additional quarter of the population will need food, jobs, housing, and healthcare that we’re currently not equipped for. But by nurturing innovation and the growth of new, leap-frogging ideas, we can grow whole new industries of opportunity. And if we can do that, then we ensure that our actions today have a meaningful impact on the generations of tomorrow,” said GIIG and GSA Africa co-founder Jo Griffiths.

    About Global Innovation and Investment Group (GIIG) 

    The Global Innovation and Investment Group (GIIG) is an organization devoted to bringing together various parties involved in innovation in the form of a reliable network in order to accelerate the process of finding, funding, and developing ground-breaking technological ideas. As they observe the integration of economies across Africa, they realize that the significance of their mission is growing.

    They make it possible for African entrepreneurs in the technology sector to prosper and build enterprises that lead the way in developing global solutions to the most pressing problems of their era.

    They have the potential to inspire the next generation of African entrepreneurs and propel innovation throughout the continent if they work together.

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    About Global Startup Awards

    The Global Startup Awards is the most prominent and comprehensive competition for autonomous startup ecosystems. The GSA utilizes its competitive structure and event calendar in order to operate programmes in every region of the world.

    The Global Startup Awards are an international competition that brings together high-impact startups and investors from over one hundred nations. Participants in the network have the opportunity to meet potential mentors, partners, and clients, and they also have access to the most recent developments in their respective industries.