ITU Secretary-General urges connectivity focus at Africa AI summit in Kigali

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin has set a pragmatic tone at the opening of the Global AI Summit on Africa, stressing that basic digital access must precede advanced artificial intelligence development across the continent. The UN technology leader challenged delegates to address fundamental infrastructure gaps before pursuing cutting-edge AI applications. 

Speaking to assembled heads of state and technology ministers, Bogdan-Martin presented a three-part foundation for Africa's AI future: universal connectivity, robust digital infrastructure, and localized skills development. Her intervention came with sobering context – nearly 400 million Africans still lack internet access according to ITU statistics, creating what she termed "an innovation desert where AI cannot take root." 

The Secretary-General's address resonated particularly with delegates from landlocked and rural nations, where connectivity challenges remain acute. She cited Rwanda's successful national broadband program as an implementable model, while warning against developing AI systems that fail to account for Africa's linguistic diversity and infrastructure limitations. 

Bogdan-Martin announced ITU's commitment to support five African nations in developing national AI strategies this year through the UN's AI Readiness Assessment framework. The approach prioritizes energy access and digital literacy as prerequisites for AI deployment, ensuring technologies serve agricultural, healthcare and education needs before commercial applications. 

As the summit continues, the Secretary-General's emphasis on "connectivity before complexity" has reframed working group discussions toward practical implementation pathways. Her closing remark "AI won't feed children who can't access a school lunch menu online" underscored the need for development-focused technology priorities across the continent. 

By: Nana Appiah Acquaye