The IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Africa Summit 2025 (CTU Africa 25), scheduled for November 27–28 at Baze University, Abuja, is set to become a landmark event for advancing inclusive digital development in Nigeria and across the African continent.
Speaking during a media interaction in Abuja, Chukwuemeka Okafor, General Conference Chair for Connecting the Unconnected, said the summit will revolve around eight critical tracks, each targeting a key pillar of Africa’s connectivity ecosystem:
- Infrastructure and Technologies for Universal Connectivity
- Policy, Regulation, and Sustainable Financing
- Rural and Community-Centric Connectivity Innovations
- Digital Transformation: Smart Cities, Education, Health, and Agriculture
- Regional Cooperation: One Africa Network and Cross-Border Initiatives
- Sustainable Power & Energy for Connected Communities
- People, Policy, and Sustainability
- Cybersecurity, Data Protection, and Critical Infrastructure
“These tracks bring together all major stakeholders to address Africa’s connectivity gaps from every possible angle,” Okafor explained.
The event, themed “Bridging Digital Frontiers: African Solutions for Universal Connectivity,” serves as a regional edition of the IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CTUS-EMEA) Summit.
CTU Africa 25 will bring together engineers, policymakers, regulators, researchers, and business leaders to design scalable and context-sensitive connectivity solutions for underserved regions.
According to Okafor, the summit will also foster collaboration between governments, industry players, and development partners, with the ultimate goal of developing actionable policy recommendations for universal connectivity across Africa.
The two-day event will feature keynote addresses from global technology leaders, government officials, and policy experts. It will also include panel discussions, technical paper presentations, hands-on workshops, and an exhibition area showcasing innovative connectivity solutions.
A special startup showcase will allow African innovators to present their solutions to potential investors. Okafor revealed that IEEE is already in talks with Nokia to support this initiative.
Bridging the Digital Divide for 2.9 Billion Unconnected People
The IEEE CTU Africa Summit aims to address the global challenge of 2.9 billion people without stable or affordable internet access.
“The significance of this event is that it offers an opportunity to address Africa’s connectivity challenges and opportunities, deliberate on regional collaboration models, discuss cross-border connectivity, and position Africa — particularly Nigeria — as an innovation hub, not just a consumer market,” said Okafor.
IEEE is also exploring deeper collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), especially in support of its rural telephony initiatives aimed at connecting over 100 million Nigerians currently outside network coverage.
According to Okafor, part of the discussion will focus on sustainable financing models and policy frameworks that can attract investors to rural connectivity projects.
“The goal is to bring all stakeholders together to identify the challenges, opportunities, and data realities while exploring financial models that support small operators focused on rural deployment,” he said.
The IEEE CTU Africa 2025 Summit promises to be a turning point in Africa’s digital inclusion journey, providing a roadmap for universal connectivity, regional collaboration, and sustainable digital transformation.