The African Technology and Innovation Institutes (ATII) is set to hold the inaugural summit of its flagship initiative, the African Industrial Forum (AIF) on Thursday, 10 July 2025.
Founded by Nigeria’s Prof. Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua, the world’s first Black woman to earn a PhD in Cybernetics, the virtual forum will convene policymakers, industry titans, academics, and youth leaders to accelerate Africa’s transformation into a global manufacturing powerhouse through smart technologies.
The event is themed ‘Africa’s Future: Shaping Global Industries Through Smart Manufacturing, Automation, and Artificial Intelligence’, and will build on recent momentum, including Nigeria’s 67% surge in manufacturing FDI ($1.59 billion in 2023).
It aims to drive five critical goals: advance smart manufacturing through AI and automation; foster cross-sector collaboration; empower youth for high-tech industrial jobs; mobilise investments in local production ecosystems; and bridge workforce skills gaps.
On the essence of the summit, the United States-based professor called for collaboration: ‘This is more than a forum—it’s Africa’s call to action’, she affirmed. ‘Through unity and innovation, we will build an industrial legacy defined by African ingenuity’. Africa’s rise demands sustainable, inclusive growth.
‘The AIF Summit unites stakeholders to ensure we become industrial innovators by design, not default. We must connect education to employment, policy to practice, and vision to implementation, empowering our youth to thrive as architects of Africa’s renaissance’, she said.
Speakers lined up for the event, to be hosted by Ekeng-Itua include the Founder of AI Centre of Excellence Africa & Afya Rekod, Mr. John Kamara; and the Director/Head of African Strategic Partnerships at Lancaster University, Dr. Akanimo Odon.
Other African eggheads to speak at the landmark event are the Executive Commissioner (Corporate Services and Administration) at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Dr. Kelechi Onyekachi Ofoegbu; Senior Strategic Research Programme Management Leader at Google, Dr. Edem Wornyo; and Head of Global Partnerships, GET.transform, Ms. Ene Sandra Macharm.
The summit marks a strategic leap toward repositioning the continent from consumer to producer in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, addressing manufacturing’s current 10% contribution to continental GDP and aims to harness opportunities like the African Continental Free Trade Area, projected to unlock $450 billion in intra-African trade by 2035.
In addition, the 10 July summit will feature a keynote on ‘Africa’s Industrial Renaissance’, a multi-sector stakeholder panel, and awards honouring pioneers in African industrialisation.
Registration for the programme is free. The virtual event will commence at 1500 WAT via Zoom, with registration at https://aiforum.afritechi2.com/reg/
ATII serves as a crucial knowledge transfer hub, bridging the gap between research and industry for Africa and Indigenous communities.
The institute empower local innovation by providing tailored support for policy-relevant research in key areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Clean Technology, Climate Resiliency, and more.
By focusing on needs-based development, we enable sustainable solutions that enhance healthcare, education, clean water access, and agricultural practices while promoting women’s empowerment. Partner with ATII to drive impactful change and foster a thriving ecosystem of technological advancement in Africa.
