TLDR: Africa is set to host major events in 2025 focusing on artificial intelligence, with a strong emphasis on equitable partnerships and shaping the continent’s digital future. The Africa AI Conference in Mombasa, Kenya (August 25-28), will explore innovation, autonomy, and human potential through AI. Concurrently, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) International Week (October 13-17) in Nigeria, themed ‘Equitable Partnerships and the Future of AI in Africa,’ has already brought together global experts, including OpenAI’s Africa Lead, to discuss ethical AI governance, data stewardship, and educational innovation, culminating in the first-ever UNILAG-OpenAI Academy.
Africa is poised to take a proactive role in the global artificial intelligence landscape with several key events scheduled for 2025, underscoring a continent-wide commitment to fostering equitable partnerships and harnessing AI for sustainable development.
The Africa AI Conference 2025 is slated to take place from August 25-28 at Sarova Whitesands in Mombasa, Kenya. This premier continental event, themed ‘AI for Development & Future for Africa,’ aims to shape the future of innovation, autonomy, and human potential through AI. Key focus areas for the conference include establishing an African AI Skills Compact for mass rollout of ‘The Dawn Directive’ in partnership with universities, ministries, and enterprises. It also seeks to connect African innovators with global capital, catalyzing startups and AI hubs across vital sectors such as EduTech, HealthTech, AgriTech, FinTech, GovTech, and ClimaTech. Furthermore, the conference will promote sovereign data and AI infrastructure, ensuring compliance with African laws and cultural contexts, and build frameworks for inclusive, transparent AI while protecting citizens’ rights. The event is expected to culminate in ‘The Mombasa Declaration,’ a charter by African leaders outlining a clear path for Agentic AI governance.
Adding to this continental dialogue, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) International Week 2025, held from October 13-17 in Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria, centered on the theme ‘Equitable Partnerships and the Future of AI in Africa.’ This week-long academic conversation brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including renowned scholars, tech companies, government officials, policymakers, and international organizations from across Africa, Europe, and America.
Prominent figures at the UNILAG event included Emmanuel Lubanzadio, Africa Lead at OpenAI; Yvonne Ike, Managing Director and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at Bank of America; Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy; and Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Nigerian entrepreneur and Founding Partner of Future Africa. Discussions throughout the week explored critical topics such as ethical AI governance, data stewardship, educational innovation, startup financing, and the digitalization of government systems.
A significant highlight of the UNILAG International Week was the hosting of the first-ever UNILAG–OpenAI Academy on October 14 and 15, 2025. This two-day event, a result of an ‘equitable partnership’ between UNILAG and OpenAI, brought together approximately 120 participants to explore the possibilities of AI and equip them with essential skills for an AI-powered world. Professor Folasade Tolulope Ogunsola, Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, emphasized that AI is ‘a tool of the 21st century‘ that curates data and draws new deductions, and must be used to advance innovation, not replace it. She charged participants to use AI ‘responsibly and creatively.’
Professor Lesi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services) at UNILAG, underscored that Africa ‘cannot ignore AI because it is here to stay in education, healthcare, finance, humanities and in governance.‘ He stressed the importance of leveraging AI’s capacities ‘through partnerships with key industry players in a way that ensures it serves societies equitably.‘ The consensus from these discussions is that Africa must transition from being a passive consumer to an ‘active contributor, thoughtful leader, and builder of contextually relevant solutions‘ in the AI revolution.
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The convergence of diverse expertise at these events is expected to yield actionable outcomes, including policy recommendations, academic partnerships, and investment linkages, all aimed at strengthening Africa’s digital future.
