Africa’s Industrial Future Takes the Stage: AIF Summit 2025
On July 10, 2025, something powerful is happening, and it's all about Africa's future.
The African Technology and Innovation Institutes (ATII) is hosting the inaugural African Industrial Forum (AIF) Summit, a landmark virtual gathering designed to position Africa as a global manufacturing leader. Founded by Nigerian-born Professor Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua, the first Black woman to earn a PhD in cybernetics, the summit is set to be a bold move toward Africa’s industrial transformation.
And yes, attendance is completely free.
The summit’s theme, “Africa's Future: Shaping Global Industries Through Smart Manufacturing, Automation, and Artificial Intelligence,” captures its ambitious vision.
With manufacturing making up just 10% of the continent’s GDP, this event signals a pivot from consumption to creation in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Five Core Objectives of the AIF Summit
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Promote cross-sector collaboration between academia, industry, and government
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Empower African youth for careers in high-tech and industrial fields
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Mobilize investment into localized production ecosystems
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Close workforce skills gaps in STEM and industrial sectors
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Advance smart manufacturing through automation and AI
Africa is already building momentum. Take Nigeria, for example—it saw a 67% rise in manufacturing foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2023, hitting $1.59 billion. This summit is tapping into that energy, aiming to scale it across the continent.
Professor Rose-Margaret puts it plainly:
“This is more than a forum, it’s Africa’s call to action.”
Based in the United States but deeply connected to the continent, she’s urging Africans everywhere to see themselves not just as participants, but as architects of a bold new industrial legacy.
What to Expect on July 10
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A dynamic panel of multi-sector stakeholders
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Recognition of trailblazers in African industrialization
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A powerful keynote on Africa's Industrial Renaissance
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Insights from top minds in energy, AI, entrepreneurship, and research
Notable Speakers Include
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Dr. Kelechi Onyekachi Ofoegbu – Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission
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Dr. Akanimo Odon – Global Research Consultant
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Ene Macharm – GIZ (Social Infrastructure & Development)
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Dr. Edem Wornyo – AI and Agile Product Strategist
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John Kamara – Tech Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of Adanian Labs
Zoom Details
Date: Thursday, July 10, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM WAT
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Register here: https://aiforum.afritechi2.com/reg/
The summit also aligns with transformative opportunities like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)—a deal expected to generate $450 billion in intra-African trade by 2035. Events like AIF are exactly what’s needed to make sure African nations are ready to seize that economic promise.
The African Technology and Innovation Institutes (ATII) is more than an event organizer. It’s a vital knowledge hub connecting African science, policy, and Indigenous innovation. ATII supports research in artificial intelligence, clean tech, and climate resilience, backed by targeted funding.
Their mission is rooted in needs-based development: from improving water access to empowering women, they prioritize long-term, people-centered progress.
Join the movement. Engage. Collaborate. Register now. Help rewrite the continent’s industrial story with intention, innovation, and African ingenuity.
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