GSMA Backs Abuja Declaration to Accelerate African Digital Connectivity

The commitment, finalized at the African Telecommunications Union Conference in Abuja, aligns Benin, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, and Togo behind a shared mandate for technology-neutral regulation and resilient digital infrastructure. By prioritizing evidence-based policy, these governments intend to bridge the gap between basic internet access and meaningful, high-value usage.

To translate these ambitions into technical reality, the GSMA and a coalition of public and private partners introduced Africa Umoja AI. This initiative functions as a collaborative hub for sharing datasets and research expertise, ensuring that AI development is not imported but built locally to serve African cultural and linguistic needs. Angela Wamola, Head of Africa at the GSMA, noted that making digital services available in everyday languages is critical to overcoming the literacy barriers that currently stall internet adoption. The program draws on the momentum of the AI for Good Global Commission, effectively positioning these regional ministries as architects of inclusive, scalable technology that addresses specific development priorities across the continent.