- Kigali 2026
Welcome Pack
Get the Forward Africa Leaders Symposium – Kigali 2026 Welcome Pack
About the Summit
The Continental Summit of the Forward Africa Leaders Symposium will convene in the City of Kigali, bringing together policy leaders, technology executives, development partners, social impact actors, innovators, and financiers to interrogate what digital infrastructure must mean for Africa at this critical juncture in its transformation. Through high-level dialogue and cross-sector exchange, leaders will surface the strategic imperatives required to shape coherent policy, strengthen institutional capacity, and catalyse purposeful collaborations that deliver scaled, measurable impact.
Programme Overview
The Golden Hour
Dinner and conversations on Inclusive Digital Transformation
14th May, 2026 | 18:00 CAT
Golden Hour Dinner and Conversations— an invitation-only convening of senior ministers, development finance executives, technology entrepreneurs, and civil society principals in an intimate setting designed for conversations on leading for inclusive impact.
The Leaders Dialogue
15th May, 2026 | 7:00 CAT
A convening of Africa’s foremost leaders— where national capability meets continental vision. This high-level plenary brings together the continent’s most influential voices from public and the private sectors to reimagine digital integration through the lens of Africa’s unique and diverse systems.
Why Participate
Connect
Engage directly with Africa’s foremost leaders, investors, and innovators at the forefront of the continent’s digital evolution.
Influence
Shape high-level conversations that drive policy, guide investment priorities, and define clear pathways to execution.
Explore
Uncover high-impact initiatives, strategic partnerships, and bold innovations powering Africa’s next wave of digital transformation.
What to Expect
- The kind of conversations and insights that only happens when the right people are in the same room.
- The Golden Hour is an invitation-only dinner for women in leadership and allied players— intimate, candid, and conducted in the Jefferson Dinner tradition.
- The Leaders Dialogue is a principals-level plenary built for alignment, not performance — structured around Africa’s defining digital and economic questions.
- The Forward Leaders Luncheon closes the Summit with the full delegate community, marking not an ending but a point of departure.
Voices shaping the conversations
Secretary-General, AfCFTA Secretariat
H.E. Wamkele Mene
Executive Chairman, KGL Group
Alex Apau Dadey
CEO, APRM Continental Secretariat
H.E. Amb. Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre
Director General, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)
H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya
Chief Executive Office eTranzact, Ghana
John Apea
Director Information Technology Department, NITDA, Nigeria
Dr Amina Sambo-Magaji
Senior Advisor, Africa Stellar Development Foundation
Kwame Oppong
Founder and CEO BlueSpace Financial Cloud
Samuel Amanor
CEO, ABAN
Fadilah Tchoumba
Co-founder and Managing Director Zeepay
Andrew Takyi-Appiah
Vice President of Strategy Yellow Card
Gillian Darko
Minister of ICT and Innovation, Rwanda
H.E. Paula Ingabire
Executive Director African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD)
Dr. Vasu Gounden
Senior Lecturer, School of Law University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, South Africa
Dr Nomalanga Mashinini
Coordinator - Green Transition Practice AB & David Africa
Pauline Anaman
Director of Programs, Synergy at the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
Dr. Anthony Mveyange
CEO and Co-founder, Q-Lana Inc
Christian Ruehmer
Head of Strategic Partnerships Africa, Sumsub
Tom Schoon
Deputy Minister for the Public Service and Administration Republic of South Africa
Hon. Pinky Sharon Kekana
MTN Group Chief Sustainability & Corporate Affairs Officer
Nompilo Morafo
UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative
Fatmata Lovetta Sesay
CEO, Rwanda ICT Chamber
Alex Ntale
CEO, Telecel Ghana
Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai
Senior Vice President, MTN Group
Ebenezer Asante
Co-Host
Strategic Partners
Discussion Pillars
AI and advanced technologies for governance & productivity
Digital and financial literacy as critical infrastructure
Sustainable energy systems for AI readiness
HealthTech & Digital Health Systems
Scaling innovation across women and youth-led enterprises
Cross-border digital infrastructure
Why Kigali-Rwanda
Rwanda offers a rare blend of breathtaking natural beauty, forward-thinking innovation, and a safe, welcoming environment—making it an inspiring and seamless destination for hosting FALS 2026
Discussion Pillars
Advance a continental consensus on infrastructure and governance frameworks for shaping digital and AI-enabled infrastructure grounded in African priorities, data, and values.
Position digital literacy as strategic infrastructure essential for delivering inclusive digital transformation in Africa
Scale capital and partnerships to enhance national and regional digital capabilities and energy systems required to support resilient, coordinated and AI-ready digital economies across Africa.
Facilitate peer learning and exchange of good practices on AI governance, data sharing and AI-enabled e-governance across African countries through country-to-country peer learning to ensure Africa’s digital transformation leaves no one behind.