Africa’s AI-led digital revolution ambitions went global this week as business leaders, policymakers, and innovators gathered for Unstoppable Africa 2025 on the sidelines of the ongoing 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80).
With several high African leaders in attendance, the flagship forum of the Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI) unveiled groundbreaking projects designed to accelerate Africa’s transformation in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and financial innovation.
Game-changing initiatives poised to place Africa at the centre of global innovation, particularly the rapid expansion of the continent’s AI infrastructure, were unveiled at Unstoppable Africa 2025 in New York.
The announcements mark a pivotal step in equipping African innovators and businesses to design homegrown AI solutions tailored to the continent’s most urgent challenges.
The most striking reveal came from Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa, founder and executive chairman of Econet Global and Cassava Technologies, who shared his plans to build Africa’s first network of AI factories.
Powered by NVIDIA GPUs and slated for completion by 2026, the tech entrepreneur stressed that the initiative will anchor the continent’s participation in the global AI economy.
“We cannot afford to be spectators in the AI revolution. Africa must be a producer of solutions, not just a consumer of technologies developed elsewhere,” stated Masiyiwa.
Adding momentum to the continent’s digital race at the event that had UN secretary-general António Guterres as a key speaker, Meta outlined new investment opportunities in Africa’s digital ecosystem.
Kojo Boakye, Meta’s vice president of Public Policy for Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey, pointed out the company’s confidence in the continent with the largest young population. “Africa is not the future. it is the now. We see enormous potential in how AI and digital tools can power economic growth and inclusion.”
The financial sector also took centre stage when the Africa Finance Corporation, working with African pension and social security institutions, launched the Africa Savings for Growth initiative.
The ambitious plan is aimed at mobiliisng over $1 trillion in institutional assets toward long-term investments in infrastructure and inclusive development.
Closing the forum, UN deputy secretary-general Amina J. Mohammed urged Africans to continue taking ownership of their digital journey.
“Unstoppable Africa is a space to remind ourselves that this is our narrative, on our terms, and we go forth building stronger markets, economies, and democracies,” she said.
Share
