Strive Masiyiwa Unveils Plans for Africa’s First AI Factories to Drive Homegrown Innovation
The initiative will serve as a foundation for local AI research and development, equipping African innovators with the infrastructure and tools needed to participate in the global AI economy.
Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Executive Chairman of Econet Global and Cassava Technologies, unveiled plans to establish Africa’s first network of AI factories during the Unstoppable Africa 2025 forum, held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly.
The factories, powered by NVIDIA GPUs and expected to be completed by the end of 2026, aim to position Africa as a producer of AI solutions rather than just a consumer. Masiyiwa stressed the importance of homegrown innovation to tackle the continent’s pressing challenges.
“We cannot afford to be spectators in the AI revolution. Africa must be a producer of solutions, not just a consumer of technologies developed elsewhere.”
-Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Executive Chairman, Econet Global and Cassava Technologies
The initiative will serve as a foundation for local AI research and development, equipping African innovators with the infrastructure and tools needed to participate in the global AI economy.
This announcement marks a significant milestone in Africa’s digital transformation, highlighting Masiyiwa’s commitment to advancing the continent’s technology ecosystem and fostering sustainable innovation.
