African policymakers complete ITU training on AI Governance in Addis Ababa
Date: 2026-02-08
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Policymakers
and government officials from more than 20 African countries have completed a
week-long International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Academy training
programme on artificial intelligence governance in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The
training, titled “AI Governance: Drafting Secure and Innovative Frameworks,”
brought together 37 participants to strengthen national and regional capacity
to design effective AI governance systems. The programme focused on equipping
officials with practical tools to develop policies that balance innovation,
security and public interest in a rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Participants
engaged in hands-on design thinking labs, simulations and scenario-based
exercises to examine the full lifecycle of AI systems. The sessions explored
governance gaps, oversight mechanisms, sector-specific risks and cross-border
regulatory challenges, enabling participants to test approaches and co-develop
national strategies.
The
programme concluded with participants jointly developing five-year AI
governance roadmaps tailored to their national contexts, drawing on global best
practices and international frameworks. The roadmaps are intended to guide
implementation and support responsible AI adoption across the continent.
The
training was facilitated by ITU experts Miriam Stankovich and Nikola Neftenov
and was delivered with the support of the ITU Regional Office for Africa. The
programme was funded under the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative.
