The Africa Premier AI Conference 2025 (APAIC 2025) launched in Mombasa, Kenya, on August 26, 2025, uniting leaders, innovators, and global partners to shape Africa's digital future. With a focus on digital sovereignty and inclusive innovation, the event, co-sponsored by MindHYVE.ai, marks a pivotal moment for ethical AI adoption across the continent. Mary Kerema, Secretary ICT, E-Government and Digital Economy, delivered a compelling keynote, heralding a "Decade of Intelligence" for Africa.
APAIC 2025 opens in Mombasa, emphasizing digital sovereignty and AI innovation.
Mary Kerema calls for ethical, inclusive AI to transform African communities.
MindHYVE.ai introduces Agentic AI, prioritizing autonomy and ethical alignment.
Focus on youth, women, and partnerships to drive Africa's digital future.
Challenges include infrastructure gaps, skills shortages, and siloed data.
Africa's strengths: diversity, resilience, and local innovation in AI solutions.
Mary Kerema's keynote set the tone for APAIC 2025, urging African leaders to embrace AI that aligns with the continent's values. "Technology, however advanced, is only truly powerful when it transforms real lives—especially those on the margins," said Kerema. "Digital sovereignty is not about isolation. It is about agency—the right and ability for African people, institutions, and governments to shape, govern, and benefit from AI systems on their own terms." Her vision emphasizes AI's potential to uplift communities through intentional and inclusive strategies.
Kerema outlined key challenges hindering Africa's digital transformation: infrastructure gaps, skills shortages, and siloed data. These barriers limit the scalability of AI solutions across diverse regions. However, she highlighted Africa's strengths, including its unmatched diversity, resilience, and local innovation in sectors like health, education, and fintech. By fostering modular, explainable, and privacy-respecting AI systems, African entrepreneurs and global partners are co-creating solutions tailored to local needs.
Co-sponsor MindHYVE.ai introduced its Agentic AI framework, a transformative approach to intelligent systems. Bill Faruki, Founder and CEO, emphasized its alignment with Africa's values of collaboration and inclusivity. Agentic AI empowers users through autonomy, explainability, and ethical design, enabling governments, enterprises, and communities to control their digital ecosystems. This framework positions Africa as a pioneer in ethical AI development, fostering trust and innovation.
APAIC 2025 prioritizes Africa's youth and women as key drivers of the digital future. Investments in upskilling, women-in-AI forums, and digital public infrastructure aim to bridge the skills gap and promote inclusivity. Kerema stressed the importance of empowering these groups to lead AI innovation, ensuring that solutions reflect diverse perspectives and address community-specific challenges. This focus underscores Africa's commitment to equitable technological advancement.
Kerema called for moving beyond rhetoric to forge actionable partnerships that deliver measurable community impact. She outlined three priorities: ethical AI aligned with African values, policies that foster innovation and inclusion, and platforms that empower teachers, health workers, entrepreneurs, and public servants. These efforts aim to position Africa as a global AI leader, not merely an adopter, by leveraging collaborative networks and local expertise.
APAIC 2025, held from August 25-28 at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort, sets a bold agenda for Africa's role in the global AI revolution. Kerema's closing words, "Let us leave this conference not only inspired but equipped and committed to accelerating Africa's journey to a digital future where we are not just users, but leaders. If you want to go far, go together," encapsulate the event's vision of unity and leadership. The conference serves as a catalyst for ethical, inclusive AI, driving Africa's digital transformation forward.
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