Connecting the Dots: Fintech, AI, and a Unified Vision Take Shape at MWC25 Kigali Day Two

Day Two at MWC Kigali 2025 unfolded with a renewed sense of purpose. The halls of the Kigali Convention Centre buzzed once again with energy, as delegates, innovators, and industry leaders returned for another full day of dialogue, discovery, and partnership-building. If Day One set the vision, Day Two was about turning that vision into actionable pathways — from inclusive fintech strategies to AI systems built by and for Africa.

For the TechAfrica News team, it was another dynamic day on the ground — speaking with thought leaders, exploring exhibition booths, and engaging in conversations that revealed the ideas shaping Africa’s next digital chapter. Across every panel and keynote, one message stood out: Africa’s tech transformation is no longer theoretical; it is unfolding in real time, powered by collaboration, local ingenuity, and a growing confidence in Africa’s ability to define its own digital destiny.

Here’s a look at what Day Two had to offer — from the visionary fintech conversations that opened the day to the bold AI sessions that closed it. 

One Africa, One Payment Trail: Fintech and AI Take Center Stage on Day Two

The morning opened with one of the most anticipated sessions of MWC Kigali 2025 — Africa’s Fintech Outlook: Visionary Strategies Shaping the Fintech Landscape. The discussion brought together leaders from Hydrogen Payments, Safaricom, MTN Fintech, AXIAN Fintech, Airtel Mobile Commerce, and RSwitch, exploring how innovation, interoperability, and policy are redefining the continent’s financial systems.

Setting the tone, Kemi Okusanya, CEO of Hydrogen Payments, painted a vivid picture of Africa’s fragmented payment ecosystem through the story of Mamadou, a Senegalese trader whose customers could not pay him simply because their digital systems did not connect. “We have made progress,” she said, “but the next frontier is interoperability — one Africa, fifty-plus states, and one payment trail.” She called attention to the continent’s rapid growth in digital transactions, the rise of embedded finance, and the importance of trust, cybersecurity, and regulation as fintech matures. 

“As we think about the next wave, and we think about Africa, one thing I want us to leave this room with, I want us to remember that for us to crack that next growth phase, we have to think from the perspective of one Africa, 50 plus states, and one payment trail.”

– Kemi Okusanya, CEO, Hydrogen Payments 

Following her, Jean Claude Gaga, Managing Director of Airtel Mobile Commerce Rwanda, highlighted Rwanda’s advances in digital identity and security, from SIM registration reforms to AI-powered spam alerts. He underscored interoperability and customer-centric design as the foundation for a sustainable fintech future, remarking that “we must build products for our customers, not find customers for our products.”

Together, the keynote speakers captured the optimism driving Africa’s fintech revolution — a vision of a continent increasingly connected by seamless, secure, and inclusive financial systems. 

Throughout the rest of Day Two, MWC Kigali 2025 unfolded with a series of sessions that built on the day’s momentum around AI, inclusion, and digital growth. The agenda moved from bold fintech insights to in-depth discussions on how Africa could shape its own AI future. 

Highlights included “Eliminating Bias: AI for Africa, by Africa” which examined locally developed AI systems that reflect the continent’s diversity, and “From Smart, to AI Smart: Africa’s Business Transformation Driven by AI” which explored how telecoms and enterprises were applying AI and IoT across key sectors such as agriculture, fintech, healthcare, and smart utilities. Beyond the main stage, the day featured several side events, exhibitions, and networking moments where delegates, innovators, and policymakers turned dialogue into direction, advancing Africa’s connected future.

In Other News: From Mobile Growth to Child Online Safety — GSMA Highlights Africa’s Digital Future at MWC Kigali 

Adding to the momentum, the GSMA Mobile Economy Africa 2025 Report  — a landmark study capturing how mobile connectivity continues to shape Africa’s economic and digital trajectory is live. The report highlights the mobile industry’s growing role as both a driver of GDP and a catalyst for innovation, inclusion, and investment across the continent.

According to the findings, the mobile sector contributed $220 billion to Africa’s economy in 2024, representing 7.7% of GDP, and is expected to reach $270 billion by 2030. The industry supported 8 million jobs and generated $30 billion in public funding. Yet, while 416 million people now use mobile internet, nearly 960 million remain offline, revealing that the challenge has shifted from coverage to usage.

By 2030, 4G adoption is projected to rise from 45% to 54%, while 5G connections will expand from 2% to 21%, powered by $77 billion in new operator investments. The report paints a clear picture of Africa’s digital decade — one defined by opportunity, innovation, and the urgent need to close the continent’s usage gap through inclusive access and locally relevant solutions.

Following the momentum at MWC Kigali, UNICEF and GSMA have also launched the Africa Taskforce on Child Online Protection (COP), the continent’s first multi-stakeholder platform dedicated to strengthening children’s safety, rights, and wellbeing in the digital space. The Taskforce aims to coordinate and advance child online protection initiatives while building national and regional capacity to keep children safe online. 

“Together, we will strengthen digital governance, promote safety by design, and ensure that children and young people’s voices shape the policies that define Africa’s digital future. By working in partnership, we can position Africa as a global leader in child-centred digital governance.”

–Caroline Mbugua, Director of Public Policy, GSMA Africa 

 

Final Day: Creativity, Connectivity, and AI in the Spotlight

After two days of thought-provoking discussions, groundbreaking announcements, and industry-defining collaborations, Day Three of MWC Kigali 2025 is set to close the event on a high note. Thursday’s sessions promise a powerful blend of creativity, connectivity, and cutting-edge technology — showcasing how Africa’s digital future is being shaped by local innovation, visionary leadership, and cross-sector collaboration.

• Content is King, Queen & Everything in Between: Innovating & Elevating Africa’s Content | 09:30 – 10:45 CAT

This session explores how technology, entrepreneurship, and media innovation are shaping Africa’s creative economy, from streaming and gaming to digital art, while addressing challenges in monetization, IP, and global distribution.

Speakers: Louis Manu, Co-founder & CEO, Wi-flix | Sophie Sandra Tchatchoua, CEO, CANAL+ Rwanda | Rolivhuwa Maluma, GM – Digital Services: Marketing & Strategy, MTN Group

• The AI-Enabled Telco: Charting the Course from Telco to Techco | 11:45 – 13:00 CAT

As telecom operators evolve into AI-native digital platforms, this session examines how artificial intelligence is redefining networks, customer experience, and operational efficiency. It highlights the critical role of telcos in powering AI ecosystems across industries.
Speakers: Yong Cao, Huawei Technologies | Umut C. Yetgin, Nokia | Rishal Balkissoon, MTN | Ante Mihovilovic, Ericsson
Moderator: Ondiro Oganga, Africa Correspondent, Bloomberg

• Purpose-Driven Connectivity: Powering Innovation, Inclusion, and Investment for Africa’s Digital Future | 14:15 – 15:30 CAT

This discussion focuses on inclusive connectivity as the foundation for Africa’s digital progress, exploring how investment, digital skills, and supportive policies can expand access to education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship while driving innovation across sectors.
Speakers: Esther Kunda, Ministry of ICT and Innovation | Billy Stewart, British High Commission | Long Lu, ZTE
Panelists: Faeza Asad Khan, Abacus | Fargani Tambeayuk, Meta | Enzo Scarcella, MTN Group
Moderator: Nakami Walunywa, Village Capital

As MWC25 Kigali enters its final day, anticipation builds for how the event will wrap up. With sessions highlighting Africa’s creative economy, AI-enabled transformation, and purpose-driven connectivity, the conversations continue to shape the continent’s digital future. 

Stay tuned to TechAfrica News for more updates as we bring you the key highlights and stories from the closing day.