By Staff Reporter
Africa’s technology leaders will gather in Livingstone this month to confront some of the continent’s toughest digital questions, from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to data governance and the future of the tech workforce.
The fourth TICON Africa Conference takes place at the Avani Victoria Falls Resort from 23 to 25 September, bringing together policymakers, academics and industry figures from across the continent under the theme “Africa Rising: Converting Strengths into Global Impact with ICT.”
Organisers say the programme goes beyond general talk of digital transformation to focus on practical issues — cross-border data flows, digital identity, digital payments, professional standards and Africa’s competitiveness in the global tech sector.
TICON Africa President David Gowu said the pace of AI development is outrunning the governance and security systems meant to keep it in check, and that the conference is designed to produce answers delegates can act on immediately rather than open-ended debate.
The event has drawn a wide range of speakers, including Olivier Vanden Eynde of Close the Gap, Freddy Ndlovu of the Computer Society of Zimbabwe, Victoria Nxumalo of Girls in STEM & ByoTechHub, and Dr Clement Sinyangwe, President of the ICT Association of Zambia, among a dozen others representing organisations across the continent.
Women in TICON Day
The main conference will be preceded, on 22 September, by Women in TICON Day, an initiative aimed at building the participation and leadership of women in Africa’s ICT sector through mentorship, skills development and improved access to education, career and funding opportunities.
New research track
This year’s event also introduces the TICON Africa Academic Research Track, a parallel programme giving researchers and academics space to present work alongside the main conference. Submissions accepted for the track span five themes: artificial intelligence; ICT for sustainability; trust, ethics and post-quantum security; the convergence of physical and digital technologies; and skills development and access.
Papers due for presentation include work from institutions across the region — among them a University of Cabo Verde project on retrieval-augmented AI systems, a Copperbelt University study on national cybersecurity governance frameworks, and Zambia University College of Technology research into a low-cost charcoal cooking system designed to cut emissions.
Gowu said connecting researchers with industry and ICT professionals gives good ideas a route out of the academic space and into practical use.
Awards to recognise continent’s talent
The conference will also host the TICON Africa Awards, honouring achievement across nine categories including ICT Professional of the Year, Young ICT Trailblazer, Women in Tech Leadership, Cybersecurity & ICT Governance and Lifetime Achievement. Finalists are drawn from Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Rwanda and Tunisia, reflecting the pan-African scope of this year’s event.
Gowu said the continent should not simply adapt to a digital future designed elsewhere, arguing that Africa has the talent and ambition to help shape that future itself.
TICON Africa describes itself as the continent’s leading pan-African body for ICT professionals, working through education, collaboration and knowledge-sharing to promote industry standards and thought leadership in technology.
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