Kigali once again became the epicenter of Africa’s digital transformation story as leaders, innovators, and industry captains converged for the opening ceremony of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Africa 2025.
With the theme “Converge, Connect, Create,” the event signaled a renewed determination for the continent to define its own technological destiny.
Taking the stage to resounding applause, President Paul Kagame delivered a powerful call for Africa to take ownership of its digital future.
“In just a few years, Africa has moved from limited connectivity to a mobile-driven economy. Broadband and smartphones have become part of daily life, transforming commerce, education, and finance,” he said.
The Head of State singled out mobile money as one of Africa’s most successful innovations, an idea born from necessity that has become a global model of financial inclusion.
Kagame warned, however, that despite these advances, the continent still faces deep connectivity gaps. “If this gap persists, the same technology meant to expand access could end up widening inequality. The most important conversation must be about people, how we ensure digital skills and tools reach everyone,” he cautioned.
He outlined Rwanda’s efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into governance and development planning, focusing on research, innovation, and productivity. He also highlighted the African Union and Smart Africa as key drivers toward a single digital market.
“The challenges Africa faces are significant, but they also hold immense potential if we collaborate,” Kagame said. He called for harmonized policies and stronger regional cooperation to enable secure cross-border data and payment systems.
“The future we must build is one where Africa is bold, connected, and competitive. Our progress will depend not on where we began, but on how courageously we move forward together,” Kagame concluded.
As delegates settled into the week’s discussions, the single clear message is that Africa’s digital transformation is not a distant dream. It is unfolding now, driven by vision, collaboration, and a shared belief that the next global wave of innovation can, and will, rise from Africa.
Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, welcomed over 4,000 delegates from 109 countries, describing how far Rwanda has come since it first hosted MWC Africa in 2022.
“The growth from half a million to five million 4G users in just two years, the rollout of 5G services and efforts to extend broadband access to every home, school, and hospital marks a turning point for Africa, from being seen merely as a consumer of technology to becoming a driver of digital transformation,” she said.
In Rwanda, nearly 1,000 health facilities and 4,000 schools are now connected, while more than 4.5 million Rwandans have been trained in digital literacy. Through initiatives like the One Million Coders Program, Rwanda is preparing a new generation to design Africa’s next wave of digital products.
“The future of mobile in Africa will be defined by collaboration. We must converge across governments, industries, and innovators and create solutions designed in Africa, built for Africa, and scaled to the world,” Ingabire emphasized.
Vivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA, commended Rwanda for its visionary leadership and partnership with the global mobile industry.
“Over the past 20 years, your forward-looking digital policies have transformed Rwanda’s economy. Mobile is not just a tool here, it’s a catalyst for change, driving access to education, healthcare, and financial services,” he said.
Badrinath highlighted that Rwanda’s mobile coverage now reaches 99% of the population, enabling nearly 13 million connections, a testament to the nation’s deliberate investments in digital infrastructure.
He also urged other African countries to follow Rwanda’s lead in aligning mobile technology with national development goals. “As the continent advances toward Agenda 2063, the Africa we want, Rwanda reminds us that progress is not a dream but a deliberate choice,” he said.
