Shaping Africa’s digital future: Afretec Network champions collaboration for inclusive growth

The African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretec) annual conference took place in Kigali on January 20-21, bringing together university leaders, organisations, and technology innovators from across the continent to explore the theme “Inclusive Digital Growth through Collaboration”.

The event, attended by key figures including Rwanda’s Minister of Education, provided a platform to deepen partnerships, share successful case studies, and develop actionable strategies aimed at ensuring digital advancements benefit all segments of society, especially marginalized communities.

As Africa navigates the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation, the conference sought to promote inclusive policies, foster collaboration, and establish a clear roadmap for sustainable, impactful growth.

Minister of Education in Rwanda, Joseph Nsengimana, highlighted the importance of collaboration and innovation in shaping Africa’s digital future while recognizing the significant opportunity Africa’s young and dynamic population presents, urging them to bridge the digital divide and prioritize equity in digital transformation.

“It’s about building a future where every citizen is empowered with knowledge, skills, and opportunity to thrive in an ever-evolving digital landscape. As we embrace this new era of technological advancement, we must prioritize inclusiveness, ensuring that every individual, regardless of their background, is equipped to contribute and benefit from the collective
transformation of our society,” he said. He emphasized that Rwanda’s commitment to fostering strategic partnerships, such as those with the Mastercard Foundation and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), is essential for driving sustainable growth and inclusive development across the continent.

Conrad Tucker, Director at CMU-Africa, emphasized that the core of Afretec’s mission is to advance the next generation of tech leaders across Africa, highlighting the importance of co-creation as a key principle of the Mastercard Foundation’s initiatives, which distinguishes the work of Afretec.

Tucker explained that Afretec is not just about bringing people together, but about driving innovation and the creation of new solutions—critical for Africa’s future.

“We’re here to create, to ensure that the next generation of young talent has meaningful, dignified jobs that advance the continent’s innovation and the probability of the next generation to come,” he said.

He also added that Africa must shift from being consumers of technology to active creators, as this is the path to generating the jobs and opportunities of tomorrow.

Deputy Vice Chancellor for Strategic Planning and Administration at the University of Rwanda, Raymond Ndikumana, acknowledged the progress the Afretec Network has made since its inception, noting the importance of collaboration and how Afretec has become a powerful platform in addressing Africa’s most pressing issues such as human capital development and job creation.

“Let us strengthen the partnership between collaborators, of course, we are in the path of the network, but also increase the bilateral collaboration and work tirelessly towards a future that we deserve,” he said.

Ndikumana also highlighted how Afretec is empowering the next generation of African leaders through hands-on training and entrepreneurial programmes, equipping students and faculty to tackle real-world challenges.

He encouraged continued partnership and bold thinking, urging the conference participants to strengthen collaboration and work together towards Africa’s digital future, aligning with Africa’s transformative visions such as Agenda 2063 and Rwanda’s Vision 2050.

One of the Afretec conference participants, Damilola Odekunle, a lecturer at the University of Lagos, emphasized the importance of co-creation and knowledge sharing within the network, which brings together African academics and industry practitioners in engineering and technology.

“This kind of conference should continue because the network will continue to be here for a while and it will be good for the network to expand to other African countries as well,” she noted.

Odekunle expressed her interest in learning how different universities integrate digital technology into education, particularly how educators use these tools to enhance knowledge transfer.

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