President William Ruto inaugurated the Connected Africa Summit 2024 this morning at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi, emphasizing the pivotal role of African youth in driving the continent’s digital transformation.
In his address, President Ruto highlighted the significance of the young talents in spearheading advancements in various sectors such as Fintech, agri-tech, renewable energy, and digital services.
Acknowledging the potential of African youth to propel technological innovation globally, President Ruto underscored the importance of technology as a fundamental need for economic growth and addressing contemporary challenges.
He emphasized the need to prioritize connectivity to empower people towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Despite the progress made, President Ruto pointed out that Africa’s internet penetration rate stands at 36 percent, with only about 5 percent fixed broadband penetration, indicating room for growth and improvement.
He stressed the urgency of bridging the digital divide to enhance connectivity, boost the ICT sector’s contribution to GDP, and drive overall economic growth on the continent.
- Under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), President Ruto outlined Africa’s goal to increase collective GDP from 1.7𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑜 1.7trillion to 2.5 trillion by 2030, emphasizing the need for concerted efforts to address the digital infrastructure gap.
The Summit, themed “Shaping the Future of a Connected Africa: Unlocking Growth Beyond Connectivity,” aims to foster dialogue among African policymakers and key stakeholders to steer Africa’s digital economic landscape towards sustainable growth.
The Connected Africa Summit 2024 serves as a platform for fostering innovative ideas and partnerships that leverage technology to drive Africa’s digital transformation.
With a focus on enhancing connectivity, promoting economic growth, and reducing poverty through technology-driven interventions, the Summit sets the stage for shaping Africa’s digital future.
