GSMA MWC Kigali will return to the Kigali Convention Center from 29-31 October 2024.

MWC Kigali, Africa’s largest and most influential connectivity event, will convene powerful innovators and political leaders from across the entire continent, geared towards driving the digital economy forward and enabling socio-economic growth.

MWC Kigali will deliver a range of keynotes and panel sessions hosted by industry thought leaders and leading enterprises, focussed around the four event themes: Connected Continent, The AI Future, FinTech, and Africa’s Digital DNA.

Recently confirmed speakers include Airtel Africa’s CEO, Sunil Taldar; Amini’s Founder & CEO, Kate Kallot; the GSMA’s Director General, Mats Granryd; the ITU’s Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin; Lelapa AI’s CEO and Co-founder, Pelonomi Moiloa; MTN Group’s FinTech CEO, Serigne Dioum; Republic of Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, Hon. Paula Ingabire; Take Back the Mic’s CEO & Founder, Derrick Ashong and, Wi-Flix’s CEO, Louis Manu.

For the first time in Africa, the GSMA Ministerial Programme will be hosted at MWC Kigali, marking a new chapter in the commitment to advancing the digital agenda in Africa.

The programme will convene the most influential telecommunications leaders from across the African continent to discuss policy and regulatory topics key to the region.

The Mobile for Development (M4D) team will once again play a central role at the event, driving innovation in digital technology to reduce global inequalities. M4D will host the ‘Mobile for Development Theatre’, a dedicated space for keynote sessions, panels, and discussions.

Themes will range from AI for impact and humanitarian innovation, agriculture and climate, to digital inclusion and gender.

Also returning this year is the Mobile Money Leadership Forum, which will explore key trends and innovations in mobile financial services.

The MWC Kigali keynotes will cover some of Africa’s most pressing digital connectivity issues.

Keynote 1 will discuss how digital technologies are driving socio-economic development in Africa to address the continent’s unique challenges.

Keynote 2 will focus on the transformative potential of AI, including how it can drive sustainable and inclusive growth across Africa.

Keynote 3 will see speakers explore the rapid evolution of Africa’s Fintech landscape and the technologies impacting investment opportunities.

While Keynote 4 will explore how the evolving content landscape is allowing African content creators to be heard and celebrated globally.

An agenda of GSMA Summits will be hosted during the event, inviting industry leaders and policymakers to discover the issues affecting enterprises in areas from network security to diversity in tech:

The Security Summit will tackle the most pressing security challenges mobile network operators face today, in the context of a rapidly evolving cyber risk landscape.

The Digital Summit will explore the digital economy’s potential in Africa, exploring how digital technologies and policy reform can drive significant socio-economic growth in Africa.

The AI Summit will cover both the vast potential and the associated risks of AI technologies in Africa, as the technology’s prevalence grows in the global economy.

The 5G Summit will address the barriers preventing the technology’s widespread adoption and ways to unlock its potential for both enterprises and consumers.

The Diversity for Tech Summit will focus on the urgent need for greater disability inclusion in Africa’s tech sector, ensuring that people with disabilities have access to the tools and opportunities they need to succeed.

MWC Kigali is held alongside the Africa Health Tech Summit and FEWA (Future of Education and Work in Africa), offering an in-depth exploration of connectivity challenges and opportunities in the health and education sectors.

We are proud to have the support of our stellar line up of sponsors, exhibitors and event partners, including Africa CDC, Africa Union, Huawei, inABLE, MTN, the Republic of Rwanda, Smart Africa and ZTE.

For more information, follow our updates on the MWC Kigali Press Zone or visit www.mwckigali.com.

Accredited media are invited to register here for a complimentary pass, which is required for access to the press centre.

African Public Relations Association (APRA), the umbrella body of public relations practitioners and professionals in Africa, expresses deepest sympathy to the Governments and people of Nigeria and Cameroon over the overwhelming floods ravaging the countries, particularly the recent flooding in Borno State and other parts of the Northeast zone in Nigeria, as well as in Cameroon’s Far North Province, with severity in the city of Yagoua, the capital of Mayo Danay Department.

APRA laments the occurrence of the distressing floods caused by the collapse of a dam in Maiduguri, and in Mayo Danay after torrential rains.

In both instances, the floods have resulted in the death of many people, displacement of persons, and unprecedented in its upsetting of the ecology.

APRA notes with grave compassion and serious concerns the impact of the floods on markets and by implication livelihoods in Maiduguri and environs as well as the reported escape of wildlife, including snakes and other lethal reptiles after the flooding partially destroyed a zoo.

In Cameroon, over a hundred primary and secondary schools are affected as well as livestock, infrastructure and livelihoods.

In these incidents, we are faced with humanitarian crises and, therefore, really concerned about the recurrence, just a month after the collapse of Arba’at Dam in Sudan that equally caused deaths and displacement of persons in many communities.

APRA is determined to work with all governments, institutions and other stakeholders within and outside the continent to address communication management on climate change and other topical issues central to securing livelihoods, improving quality of life and enhancing growth across sectors in Africa.

Just two months ago, APRA leaders met with other stakeholders within the Association to announce the institutionalization of committees to act on specific challenges of African people. One of these teams focuses on the African Union and Related Linkages.

Through that committee, APRA plans to leverage its observer status with the African Union and to engage with appropriate councils of ministers to enhance communication management that will transform many sectors in Africa.

APRA is united behind the aims of the governments and peoples of Nigeria and Cameroon to find solutions to the humanitarian crises attending the disasters.

The central governments of these countries, the subnational governments in Borno State and Far North Province in Nigeria and Cameroon respectively, and other local and international stakeholders are commended on their responses to the crises to bring succour to those affected by the floods.

On behalf of all members, the Executive Council of APRA hereby sends sincere condolence to those who lost family members and friends, and wish the displaced, the injured as well as those whose livelihoods have been affected a speedy recovery.