By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Rwandan President Paul
Kagame has called for increased investment in Africa’s young population and
artificial intelligence capabilities, saying the continent has a critical role
to play in shaping the future of the global digital economy.
Speaking at the AI for Good
Global Summit 2026, President Kagame said artificial intelligence has the
potential to transform lives, strengthen economies and create new
opportunities, but stressed that Africa must be fully prepared to participate
in and benefit from the emerging technology landscape.
“Artificial intelligence has
the power to transform lives and strengthen economies. Africa is
well-positioned to contribute to the digital economy,” President Kagame said,
highlighting the continent’s growing young workforce as a key advantage.
He noted that by 2050,
Africa is expected to have the largest and fastest-growing workforce in the
world, making investment in skills development and innovation essential to
ensuring young Africans can take advantage of opportunities created by AI.
The Rwandan leader pointed
to the growing number of success stories involving African young people using
artificial intelligence to develop solutions and address challenges across
different sectors.
President Kagame said that
ensuring AI serves humanity requires collective efforts to build inclusive
systems and strengthen Africa’s participation in global technology development.
“The bottom line, is that
for A.I. to serve humanity as a whole, we must get it right in Africa and
everywhere else,” he said.
His remarks come amid
growing global discussions on responsible AI governance, digital inclusion and
the need to ensure developing regions have access to the infrastructure, skills
and resources required to shape the future of artificial intelligence.
