Omobola Johnson among New Speakers as GSMA Announce Date for 2018 Mobile 360 Series Conference

The GSMA on Thursday announced additional speakers participating in the Mobile 360 – Africa conference, which will take place 17-19 July 2018 at the Kigali Convention Centre, Kigali, Rwanda.

The GSMA also provided further updates on the Innovation Showcase, including new features, programmes and participating companies.

Michael O’Hara, Chief Marketing Officer, GSMA. said “Mobile 360 – Africa is now less than two weeks away and we are looking forward to convening players from across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries to discuss the unprecedented opportunity that mobile provides to create and enhance social and economic development in the region,”

At Mobile 360 – Africa, CEOs and senior executives from leading mobile companies and players across the digital ecosystem will address the most pressing mobile trends and issues.

The conference will comprise thought-provoking keynote addresses, fireside chats and panel discussions.

Among the highlights, Samuel Makama, Group COO from Kenya Commercial Bank, is set to speak in the keynote panel ‘Rethinking Rules for a Digital Age’, which will be moderated by Nigel Mugamu, Chief Storyteller from 263 Chat, while Amani Abou-Zeid, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, African Union Commission (AUC), will be presenting on the ‘Power of Data’.

Other new speakers confirmed to join the line-up at Mobile 360 – Africa include:

* Philip Amoateng, CEO, Airtel Rwanda

* Omobola Johnson, Chairperson, Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI)

* George Mulamula, COO, COSTECH-DTBi

* Gerald Otim, COO and Co-Founder, Ensibuuko

* Mahir Sahin, Head of Africa, Google

* Lilian Makoi, Founder and CEO, Jamii

* Dr. Inderpal Mumick, CEO, Kirusa

* Bernie Akporiaya, Managing Director, maTontine

* Simon Karikari, CEO, Millicom Tanzania

* JP Nsengimana, Special Advisor, Smart Africa

* Vince Kadar, CEO, Telepin

* Enrica Porcari, CIO and Director Technology Division, World Food Programme

The full conference agenda is available at www.mobile360series.com/africa/agenda/.

Innovation Showcase and Increased Networking

The Innovation Showcase, where pioneering and influential companies from across Sub-Saharan Africa will present their products and solutions, will make its Africa debut, with more than 30 sponsors confirmed to participate.

Features in the Innovation Showcase include the Rwanda Country Pavilion, the #BetterFuture Stage and the #BetterFuture Lounge among others.

Sponsors for the #BetterFuture Stage include Access to Finance Rwanda, Celo, Google, Kirusa, Mahindra Comviva, Mastercard, MFS Africa and Telepin, while Channel VAS is underwriting the #BetterFuture Lounge.

The GSMA Women4Tech programme will also be held for the first time as part of the #BetterFuture Stage, following its success at Mobile World Congress events in Barcelona, San Francisco and Shanghai.

Attendees will also have ample opportunities for networking and meeting colleagues across the three days of Mobile 360 – Africa.

Safaricom is sponsoring the Day One networking reception, while the GSMA Mobile for Humanitarian Programme and IrisGuard are hosting the reception on Day Two and MFS Africa is the sponsor for the closing networking session on Day Three.