A high-level side event at the African Development Bank’s 2025 Annual Meetings spotlighted the transformative role of artificial intelligence in advancing inclusive and sustainable development across Africa.
Titled “The AI Revolution: How Will AI Support the Delivery of the African Development Bank’s 2024–2033 Ten-Year Strategy?”, the 90-minute session, co-hosted with Google AI Research, brought together thought leaders from government, industry, and academia.
“AI is not a luxury—it’s a necessity for Africa’s competitiveness, resilience, and long-term prosperity,” said Solomon Quaynor, the Bank’s Vice-President for Private Sector, Infrastructure & Industrialization, in his opening remarks.
Caroline Kende-Robb, Senior Director of Strategy and Operational Policies, linked AI development directly to the Bank’s long-term vision. “Investing in youth and data infrastructure is no longer optional—it’s foundational,” she said.
Google’s Abdoulaye Diack emphasized the need for African-centric AI models trained on local data to address challenges in agriculture, education, public health, and climate. “Without inclusive models, Africa risks being a passive consumer,” he warned.
Other speakers called for regional policy harmonization, scalable infrastructure, and ethical frameworks. Côte d’Ivoire’s Digital Minister Ibrahim Kalil Konaté advocated for coordinated governance. Raxio Group CEO Robert Skjodt stressed the need for local data centers. Kera Health CEO Moustapha Cissé urged ethical and culturally grounded AI design. Amini COO Muthoni Karubiu highlighted the importance of data sovereignty for agriculture and climate resilience.
The session concluded with a shared call for investment in three key areas:
- Human Capital: Strengthen AI literacy and technical education
- Data Infrastructure: Expand secure, scalable digital networks and storage
- Localized Data: Ensure models are trained on African languages and social contexts
With Africa holding just 1.3% of global data storage capacity, speakers warned the time to act is now. The African Development Bank reaffirmed its commitment to building a digital future that is inclusive, sovereign, and anchored in shared prosperity.
