Online Reporter
In a landmark step for Africa’s digital transformation, the Smart Africa board formally established the Africa Artificial Intelligence (AI) Council in November last year, marking a new era of leadership in AI governance and innovation for the African Continent.
Chaired by His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda and Chair of the Smart Africa Board, the board comprises 42 African Heads of State, the African Union Commissioner for Energy and Infrastructure, the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and leading representatives from the private sector and development partners.
The council’s mandate is ambitious yet clear: to provide strategic, actionable recommendations that will propel Africa toward a future where AI is accessible to all, responsibly deployed, and truly benefits Africans.
This milestone reinforces Africa’s commitment to digital sovereignty, inclusive innovation, and sustainable economic growth in the age of artificial intelligence.
Composition of the Africa AI Council
ICT Ministers (7): HE Sid Ali Zerrouki, Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Algeria; H.E Dr Boukar Michel, Minister of Telecommunications, Digital Economy, and Digitalisation, Chad; HE William Kabogo, Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications & Digital Economy, Kenya; HE Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Nigeria; HE Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT and Innovation, Rwanda; -HE Cina Lawson, Minister of Digital Economy and Transformation, Togo; HE Tatenda Mavetera, Minister of Information, Communication Technology, Postal & Courier Services (ICTPCS), Zimbabwe
Independent Members (8):
Dr. Paulin Basinga, director for Africa, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Karim Beguir, Founder & CEO, InstaDeep; Yasser Shaker, CEO, Orange Middle East and Africa; Chenai Chair, director, Masakhane African Languages Hub; Akua Gyekye, Senior Director and Head of Government Affairs – Africa, Microsoft; Prof. Vukosi Marivate, chair of data science, University of Pretoria / Co-Founder, Lelapa AI / Deep Learning Indaba; Walid Naffati, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Tunisie Haut Débit; Alex Okosi, managing director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Google.
The Smart Africa Alliance is a bold commitment to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development on the continent through ICTs and digital transformation.
