To build resilient, AI-enabled digital economies, African countries will need to invest in local talent, sovereign digital infrastructure and local innovation, panelists said at a high-level roundtable, co-hosted by Cybastion and FASO CODEAFRICATEK 2026in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The 9th EAI International Conference on Emerging Technologies for Developing Countries – known as AFRICATEK – brought together government officials, private sector leaders and researchers from June 25-27 to discuss how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) can drive digital transformation in Africa.
PanelistsEdgar Bouba, general manager of digital solutions and energy at Cybastion, andYacouba Sow, Managing Director of FasoCode-X, discussed key priorities to strengthen Africa's digital competitiveness:
- Expanding AI and digital skills training to close the continent’s talent gap
- Building national digital and energy infrastructure
- Forge closer collaboration between governments, academia and the private sector to align with market needs
Africa holds only 3% of the world's data centers despite growing demand for connectivity and digital services. Mr. Bouba stressed that digital sovereignty depends on strong infrastructure, secure data and reliable energy to leverage emerging technologies and drive long-term economic growth.
Citing the African Development Bank, Bouba said AI could potentially generate up to $1 trillion in economic value for the continent. He highlighted Cybastion’s digital transformation projects in Burkina Faso as examples of local innovation supporting public sector modernization and financial inclusion.
Mr Sow said one of Africa's biggest challenges is the shortage of market-ready digital talent. By 2030, Africa's workforce will need 625 million workers with digital skills. However, only a small percentage of technology professionals in Africa are trained in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and cloud computing.
FasoCode-X fills this gap through its “Train with the Real Thing” model, which combines industry-led education, public and private sector partnerships, and a train-the-trainer approach that prepares students for the workforce.
Cybastion's Africa DigiEmpower training initiative, a partnership with Cisco Networking Academy and African governments, operates across multiple countries to provide youth and women with in-demand digital skills to support a growing digital economy.
