GITEX Africa Day 2: Bridging Policy & Innovation for Africa’s Digital Future

Day Two of GITEX Africa 2025 brought the heat—and not just from the Marrakech sun. From the expo halls to the packed-out panel rooms, day 2 was a full-on celebration of Africa’s boldest innovations, biggest ideas, and brightest minds. You could feel the future being built in real time, right here in the heart of Marrakech. 

Whether it was AI in agriculture, the digital skills revolution, or strategies to unlock Africa’s creative economy, the common thread was clear: collaboration is key, and Africa is ready to lead. Exhibitors showcased groundbreaking solutions tailored for African realities—from climate tech to rural connectivity—and the exhibition halls buzzed with real-time demos, deal discussions, and bold vision statements.   

With the continent’s innovators, policymakers, and global tech giants all under one roof, the conversations didn’t just scratch the surface—they dove deep into Africa’s most pressing digital challenges and its most promising opportunities.  

And once again, we at TechAfrica News were right at the heart of it all. Attending high-level panels, capturing exclusive insights, and speaking with the visionaries behind Africa’s next digital chapter—we were proud to not just witness history in the making, but to help shape and share it.  

“Day Two at GITEX Africa was nothing short of phenomenal. The level of engagement, the partnerships forming in real-time, and the conversations happening across sectors show just how ready Africa is to lead in digital innovation.” 

 — Akim Benamara, Founder & Chief Editor, TechAfrica News 

Here’s what went down:  

Day 2 at GITEX AFRICA opened with a powerful spotlight on West Africa’s rising digital force. Nigeria wasn’t just represented — it owned the stage. With its own proudly branded booth, the country came in loud, clear, and determined to lead.

The GITEX Nigeria Breakfast Briefing was a standout moment, uniting influential voices from both the public and private sectors to explore Nigeria’s growing momentum in AI, fintech, and digital infrastructure.

From Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi’s national policy lens, to Elmuiz Saad’s investment perspective, Vijay Venugopal’s platform-first strategy with Zoho, and Trixie LohMirmand’s call for deeper cross-continental collaboration — it was clear that Nigeria is a huge part and helping to build Africa’s digital future.

And once again, TechAfrica News was very much present at the heart of these conversations. During the Nigerian Breakfast Briefing, we had the opportunity to connect with Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of KAOUN International, and other key stakeholders driving this wave of transformation.

From digital powerhouses to healthcare transformation — a major milestone for Africa’s health future was also unveiled today. 

The Moroccan Ministry of Health and Social Protection, in partnership with KAOUN International and the Mohammed VI Foundation for Science and Health, officially launched GITEX FUTURE HEALTH AFRICA — a bold, pan-African platform focused on health tech and innovation. Set to debut in Casablanca from 21–23 April 2026, the event will shine a spotlight on everything from AI-powered diagnostics and digital health infrastructure to data-driven systems and groundbreaking public-private partnerships. In a powerful announcement, H.E. Amine Tehraoui, Morocco’s Minister of Health and Social Protection, and Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of KAOUN International, called for urgent investment in innovation, stronger infrastructure, and more inclusive models of care.

Still on Day Two milestones, we witnessed another key moment in Morocco’s digital transformation journey. Nokia and The Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform of the Kingdom of Morocco signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during GITEX AFRICA 2025.

The agreement, signed by Mrs. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Minister of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, and Pierre Chaume, Nokia’s VP for Network Infrastructure across North, West, and Central Africa, signals a shared commitment to advancing Digital Morocco 2030.

This MoU sets the stage for collaborative efforts in next-generation infrastructure, future-ready policy, and accelerated digital adoption that reaches all corners of Moroccan society.

Adding to the wave of groundbreaking announcements, a landmark MoU was signed between IFC – International Finance Corporation and Proparco, marking their first-ever venture investment under Morocco’s new legal framework. The proposed US$40 million injection into EmergingTech Ventures Fund II signals a major leap for early-stage innovation in the region.

This fund is set to back startups across Morocco, Tunisia, and Francophone West Africa, with a focus on high-impact sectors like DeepTech, FinTech, HealthTech, and CleanTech. It’s not just capital — it’s confidence in Africa’s next generation of innovators. And it further cements GITEX AFRICA’s status as the continent’s leading launchpad for tech-driven investment, collaboration, and scale.

Adding to the growing momentum, Ericsson and Morocco’s Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills (MIEPEEC) also came together to champion entrepreneurial empowerment and digital inclusion. Their newly signed MoU at GITEX AFRICA 2025 sets the stage for exploring joint initiatives to digitally upskill small businesses and entrepreneurs across Morocco.

The collaboration aims to leverage Ericsson’s global portfolio of educational programs, giving local talent access to in-demand digital skills that support Morocco’s Digital 2030 Agenda. With a shared vision to build a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready entrepreneurial ecosystem, the partnership could become a cornerstone for sustainable innovation and economic growth in the Kingdom.

And with that, Day 2 at GITEX AFRICA closed on a high note — a day rich with bold declarations, groundbreaking launches, and deepened commitments to Africa’s digital future

What to Expect on Day 3: Final Day, Final Push 

As we head into the final day of GITEX AFRICA 2025, the energy is still electric — and the best might just be yet to come. We’re expecting even more MoUs, game-changing conversations, and disruptive innovation across sectors. With investment announcements, strategic collaborations, and powerful panel sessions already shaping Days 1 and 2, Day 3 is poised to deliver the final spark that seals this year’s edition as the biggest yet.

And on our end? It’s a full house of activity. 

Our very own Akim Benamara, Founder and Chief Editor of TechAfrica News, will be back on stage to moderate a pivotal session:

• 2:40 – 3:20 | Panel Discussion: Digitizing Governance for Transparency and Inclusion

Digital transformation is unlocking new possibilities in public service. This panel will examine how African governments can deploy digital tools to boost transparency, reduce corruption, and empower citizens — setting the foundation for inclusive and accountable governance. 

Panelists: Moulay Abdelaziz EL AMRANI – Deputy Director, INPPLC (Morocco); Aude Fournier – Deputy Director General, Digital Transformation, City of Marseille (France); Filip Mrdak – Programme Manager, Centre for Digital Transformation (Serbia); Driss Lemjaouri – Director, Digital Entrepreneurship Ecosystems, Ministry of Digital Transformation (Morocco) and Akim Benamara – Founder & Chief Editor, TechAfrica News (South Africa) 

This conversation promises insights into the future of inclusive governance and why digitization is no longer optional — it’s essential. 

But that’s just the beginning. Here’s what else to look out for:

• 11:00 – 12:30 | Panel Discussion: AI-Driven Healthcare – Balancing Innovation and Ethics 

As AI becomes central to digital health, the challenge is clear: how do we harness innovation responsibly? This session will explore the promise and pitfalls of AI in healthcare — particularly in African contexts where digital health could be a game-changer. 

Speakers: Mouhamadou Youssifou – Ambassador, Embassy of Cameroon (Morocco); Prof. Agnès Buzyn – Former Minister of Health (France); Seynabou Dial – Ambassador, Embassy of Senegal (Morocco); Dr. Mohamed Kayyali – President, IFGICT (USA); Adil Boushib – Head of Partner Technology Strategists, Microsoft (Germany); Mohamed Khaled Choulli – Founding President, Yenda Africa (Morocco); Mohamed Essaaidi – President, IEEE-SIGHT (Morocco); Lamiae Benmakhlouf – General Director, Technopark (Morocco); Eric Falt – Regional Director, UNESCO (Tanzania) and Hicham El Attar – Co-Founder, Datapathology (Morocco) 

• 13:15 – 14:00 | Panel Discussion: eGovernance for Better Public Administration

Governments across Africa are leveraging digital innovation to enhance efficiency and citizen engagement. This session explores how eGovernance can redefine service delivery in an increasingly digital society.

Speakers: Dr. Aminah Zawedde – Permanent Secretary, Ministry of ICT and National Guidance (Uganda); Oumaima El Drissi – City Councillor, City of Casablanca (Morocco); Ismail Besri – Director, Digitalization of Administration (Morocco) and Khalid Ouakka – Director, eGov, ADD (Morocco) 

• 11:55 – 12:40 | Panel: Data Centre Surge – The Ultimate Digital Frontier

Africa houses only around 1% of global data centres, yet it holds 15% of the world’s population. This panel will spotlight the strategic infrastructure powering digital economies and discuss how Africa can become the next global data hub.

Speakers: Jasper Lankhorst – Group CEO, Rack Centre (Netherlands); Gbenga Adegbiji – CEO, Geniserve (Nigeria); Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere – CEO, Anchor Telecoms (Nigeria); Dr. Krish Ranganath – Regional Executive – West Africa, Africa Data Centres (Nigeria) and Olanrewaju Ore – CEO, FiberOne Broadband (Nigeria) 

• 15:30 – 16:15 | Panel: Building Africa’s AI-Ready Ecosystem 

What does it take to build a continent prepared for AI? This panel unpacks what’s needed — from infrastructure to policy — to unlock AI’s transformative potential for Africa’s social and economic systems. 

Speakers:  Adil El Youssefi – CEO, Africa Data Centres (Kenya); Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere – CEO, Anchor Telecoms (Nigeria); Johnson Agogbua – Founder & CEO, Kasi Cloud (USA); Amine Benchekroun – VP, IT & Datacenter, Schneider Electric (Morocco) and Amine Kandil – CEO & Founder, N+ONE Datacenters (Morocco) 

• 2:00–2:40 | Panel: Building Green Computational Power  

In a world grappling with climate concerns, data infrastructure must be smart and sustainable. This final panel explores actionable strategies for building green data centres that can support Africa’s digital growth while meeting global environmental standards.

Speakers: Andie Moyan – CEO, CitiData (Nigeria); Sayali Borole – Senior Analyst, GSMA Intelligence (UK); Latifa Aghad – Country Manager, BlueSun Data Centres (Morocco); Olusegun Okuneye – Divisional CEO, ipNX Nigeria and Razak Awudulai – CEO, Onix Data Centres (Ghana)