Safaricom has announced a significant sponsorship of KES 20 million for the upcoming Connected Africa Summit 2024. The event is scheduled to run from April 21st to April 25th at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi, marking a key moment in the continent’s tech-driven transformation.

Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom CEO, expressed the company’s enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “We believe that by coming together at events like the Connected Africa Summit, we can create meaningful dialogue and collaborations that will drive Africa’s digital transformation.” He further emphasized the company’s role in shaping a sustainable future, saying, “Safaricom’s commitment to this summit is a testament to the company’s dedication to creating together, broadening horizons, and moving forward into the future.”

The Connected Africa Summit 2024, under the theme “Shaping the Future of a Connected Africa: Unlocking Growth Beyond Connectivity,” aims to serve as a platform for African leaders, investors, and businesses to come together and leverage the vast opportunities presented by the digital economy. Safaricom’s sponsorship will support the provision of crucial services such as Wi-Fi connectivity, network optimisation, experiential tech showcases, branding, merchandise, and customer engagements during the summit.

In addition to the financial sponsorship, Safaricom is set to launch the Connect Academy at the summit. This initiative is designed to be a centre of excellence for training and developing skilled fibre optic technicians in Kenya, further supporting Safaricom’s long-term commitment to nurturing local talent and fostering innovation within the country.

The Connected Africa Summit 2024 is not just an event; it’s a celebration of African ingenuity and a platform for startups and innovators who are leveraging ICT to transform the African landscape. Innovators across the continent are invited to showcase their solutions in sectors such as Health, Trade & E-commerce, Smart Cities & Mobilities, Education, Agriculture, Climate Change, Green Technology, and the Creative industry, with a special emphasis on AI-driven innovations.

The summit also sets the stage for discussions on bridging the digital divide, exploring new ICT investment opportunities, and shaping the vision for a paperless government. It promises to be a pivotal moment in reshaping Africa’s ICT sector through policy formulation, investment, and innovation. This gathering of minds will also serve as a crucial preparatory platform for the African tech agenda ahead of the UN Summit of the Future in September 2024, focusing on green technology and the governance of generative AI in the context of African realities.