Inclusivity and Sustainability Top the Agenda at Africa Tech Festival 2021

The world’s leading Africa-focused technology, media and telecommunications event will take place virtually for the second year in a row.  Building on the success of its first ever digital event in 2020 (thanks to global lockdowns), Africa Tech Festival, the home of AfricaCom and AfricaTech, will once again host global industry leaders, showcase innovation, and promote debate and discussion – all on one accessible platform – with a view to connecting the next billion people to the Internet and one another.

Tom Cuthell, (Senior Event Director) and his team have once again drawn on the expertise of more than 300 speakers who will enlighten a global audience as to the developments and opportunities affecting Africa’s digital transition. Cuthell also shares that the show has been extended saying:

“Whilst we miss the physical on-site interaction and debate with our audiences, we are delighted to be able to continue the conversations, albeit virtually again. With so much content on offer by virtue of the event being online, we have taken on board the learnings from 2020 and have extended AfricaTech Festival to a full five days of presentations, talks and debates.  This should assist delegates in planning and attending more of their desired sessions.”

Tom Cuthell, Senior Event Director:

“However, as we did last year, we will also provide access to all the recorded content to all registered attendees for 30 days after the running of the virtual event, as this also proved to be beneficial for our attendees.”

For 24 years, AfricaCom has been at the forefront of uniting tech and talent and shaping how the continent responds to the digital migration of its socio-economic needs. Key themes that will be explored in this year’s event include:

• An equitable 4IR for Africa
• The evolution of Africa’s Telcos – evolutionary trends
• Digital Infrastructure Investment
• Fair and progressive development supported by policy, governance, and leadership
• Green ICT and the sustainable energy equation.

AfricaTech will also field an exciting line-up in 2021, with streams that include emerging tech and enterprise digital transformation of the African continent. Also on the line-up, delegates can expect to get the latest insights into:

• Building a better digital world
• AI for Africa
• Cloud and Data Centres
• Cyber Security and Data Protection – a very hot topic with a developing Africa a key target for opportunists
• Fintech, MFS, Blockchain and Crypto
• Tracking emerging technology in fields such as AgTech, HealthTech, EduTech and eCommerce
• IoT Africa
• What does the future of work look like for Africa and Africans in this digitally driven shift?

As always, Africa Tech Festival will field a raft of top rate speakers, who will share their wisdom and insights and no doubt spark debate too.   Some of the key presenters and panellists who will share their wisdom with registered delegates are:

• Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown, Republic of Sierra Leone
• Ghada Mostafa Labib, Deputy Minister for Institutional Development, The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT)
• Neelesh Pratap Singh, Group Chief Information Officer, Airtel Africa
• Nitin Gajria, Managing Director – Sub-Saharan Africa, Google
• Cathy Smith, Managing Director, SAP Africa
• Sérgio Pimenta, Regional Vice President for Africa, International Finance Corporation
• Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Member of Parliament – The Klottey-Korle Constituency, The Republic of Ghana
• Dejan Kastelic, Group CTO, Vodacom
• Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, CEO M-PESA Africa & Chief Officer Financial Services, Safaricom
• Tracy Bolton, COO, SAP Africa
• Alex Okosi, Managing Director – Emerging Markets, YouTube EMEA
• Ian Paterson, Chief Investment Officer, Africell Group
• Mungai Munene, Delivery Director, President’s Delivery Unit – Executive Office of the President, Republic of Kenya
• Habiba Ben Barka, Chief of Africa Section, United Nations Conference on Trade & Development
• Alastair Long, Trade Commissioner for Africa, FCDO
• Dr Brook Taye, Senior Advisor, Finance Ministry, Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
• Mercy Wanjau, Acting Director General, Communications Authority of Kenya
• Razvan Ungureanu, Chief Technology Officer, Airtel Africa
• Dr Olufunso Somorin, Regional Principal Officer, African Development Bank

More speakers will be announced in due course.  Delegates are reminded to visit the Africa Tech Festival website for updates.

As the importance of technology and telecoms continues to spread their influence, Africa Tech Festival will also re-welcome co-located events such as AccelerateHER, AHUB, the LeadersIn Summit and another essential summit dedicated to 4IR talent and skills development for Africa.

Registration to attend AfricaTech Festival is currently FREE and delegates can apply here.

MEDIA – for media accreditation, please use this link to register.

For other media enquiries, interviews and/or images please contact:  Kaz Henderson [email protected] or call on +27 (0) 82 339 1199.  Please note that media registration will open next week.

About AfricaCom and AfricaTech 2021

 

Virtual Africa Tech Festival, including AfricaCom and AfricaTech, is part of the Informa Tech Connecting Africa event series, now in its 25th year. A vibrant celebration of Africa’s diverse community of tech champions, Africa Tech Festival is the largest tech and digital connectivity conference and exhibition in Africa, attracting hundreds of exhibitors, more than 400 speakers and an astounding 12,000 registrations in 2020. Key themes for 2021 include 4IR for Africa, Connecting the Next Billion, Digital Infrastructure Investment, Green ICT and Sustainability, ICT Policy and Regulation, the Future of Work and Talent and Skills Development. Africa Tech Festival also incorporates the AHUB, AccelerateHER Africa and the AfricaCom Awards.

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