African leaders, policymakers, and technology players have renewed calls for stronger collaboration in building digital systems that can unlock trade, financial inclusion and economic growth across the continent.
Speaking during a high-level Tech Breakfast convened by Equity Group on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum 2026, participants said Africa’s future growth will depend on how effectively governments, financial institutions and innovators integrate technology into trade and enterprise development.
The meeting, themed “From Fintech to Futuretech: Scaling Africa’s Digital Economy,” brought together leaders from government, finance, technology and innovation sectors to discuss Africa’s digital transformation agenda and the infrastructure required to support future growth.
Equity Group CEO and MD James Mwangi said the continent must create stronger links between finance and technology to support businesses and young entrepreneurs.
“We need an intersection of technology and money,” Mwangi said.
“We want to enable trade across the continent and create platforms that empower businesses and entrepreneurs to scale.”
He emphasised the need for long-term investment in innovation and digital systems capable of expanding financial inclusion and supporting enterprise development across Africa.
“We want the youth to leverage technology to develop their enterprises and participate meaningfully in the digital economy,” he said.
Mwangi noted that Africa’s transformation would require institutions willing to build shared infrastructure and move beyond traditional approaches to collaboration.
“The Africa CEO Forum has been about scaling, and this is an invitation for all of us to scale together, partnering to build public infrastructure that serves the entire continent,” he added.
The discussions also explored how emerging technologies such as blockchain, digital assets and decentralised infrastructure could improve transparency, efficiency and access to financial services across African markets.
Paula Ingabire said African countries must take ownership of their digital transformation by building systems that create value for local economies and citizens.
She highlighted the growing importance of digital infrastructure, including cross-border banking systems, digital identity and data governance frameworks, noting that data is increasingly becoming a strategic economic asset.
“We need to start setting the pace on how technology empowers us and builds value for our people,” she said.
“Every generation of technology has promised inclusion. We now need to embrace these technologies intentionally and work together to build systems that truly expand opportunity,” she added.
“The rails are ours to build and the rules are ours to create.”
The forum comes at a time when African governments and businesses are pushing for stronger regional integration and digital connectivity to support trade, innovation and economic inclusion across the continent.
