DACE: Digital Africa 2025 Conference Opens in Abuja with Focus on AI Sovereignty

The 2025 Digital Africa Conference and Exhibition (DACE) officially open today, Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at Merit House, Abuja, bringing together top policymakers, innovators, and technology leaders to discuss Africa’s digital sovereignty in the era of artificial intelligence (AI).

The two-day event, now in its 13th edition, will run through October 29 under the theme “Sovereign Intelligence: Africa’s Voice in the Global AI Order.”

It will explore how African nations can assert technological independence, protect their data, and contribute to shaping global standards for AI and digital ethics.

An impressive lineup of speakers has been confirmed, including Dr. Armstrong Takang, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI); Prof. Latif Ladid, Founder and President of the IPv6 Forum and Chair of the AI & Blockchain Global Forum; and Dr. Vincent Olagunju, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), among others.

Convener of the conference and Chairman of Digital Africa Global Consult, Dr. Evans Woherem, said the gathering would serve as a rallying point for the continent to move from passive adoption of foreign technologies to active participation in global digital governance.

“We are entering an era powered by artificial intelligence,” Woherem said. “Just as electricity became the invisible force behind modern civilization, intelligence will soon be embedded in almost everything. Africa must not stand aside in this race or risk being digitally recolonized.”

He described “Sovereign Intelligence” as a call for Africa to control its digital resources, create its own ethical frameworks, and assert its values in the global AI ecosystem. “Data is the new gold,” he warned. “Whoever controls intelligence will control the world.”

The conference will open with a keynote by Dr. Armstrong Takang, who will discuss how digital and financial sovereignty can drive Africa’s competitiveness in the global economy. Takang, a key figure in Nigeria’s public-sector reform and digital innovation, will link technology ownership to sustainable national development.

On Day Two, Prof. Latif Ladid will deliver a keynote on how Africa can safeguard its data and lead in shaping the ethical standards of emerging technologies.

“This year’s theme isn’t just a concept, it’s a necessity,” Woherem said. “Africa must remain safe, independent, and powerful in the new AI era.”

The event will also feature exhibitions of home-grown startups and AI-driven innovations addressing challenges in healthcare, agriculture, finance, and education. There will be panel sessions and youth-focused innovation labs aimed at empowering the next generation of African tech leaders.

Nneoma Ofodile, general manager of Digital Africa, said the conference would emphasize collaboration, innovation, and inclusion.

“This isn’t just a technology conversation, it’s about power, voice, and independence,” she said. “Africa must not only catch up; Africa must lead.”

Organizers say DACE 2025 will conclude with a roadmap for digital sovereignty, outlining policy actions and frameworks that reflect African values and cultural contexts.

Delegates from across Africa and beyond are expected to attend the event, which many describe as a defining moment for the continent’s technological advancement.

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