Abuja, Nigeria, will be the epicenter of Africa’s digital inclusion dialogue as it hosts the IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Africa Summit 2025 (CTU Africa 25).
Scheduled for November 27-28 at Baze University, the summit aims to develop scalable, homegrown solutions to connect millions of underserved citizens across the continent.
Themed “Bridging Digital Frontiers: African Solutions for Universal Connectivity,” the event is a pivotal regional segment of the larger IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CTU-EMEA) Summit.
According to General Conference Chair Chukwuemeka Okafor, the summit will provide a unique platform for stakeholders to collaborate on context-sensitive connectivity solutions.
“This event here in Nigeria is to showcase African innovation in connectivity solutions and also to foster collaboration between government, industry, and development partners,” said Okafor. “Our goal is to develop actionable policy recommendations for universal connectivity.”
Eight Strategic Tracks to Tackle Core Connectivity Challenges
The summit is structured around eight comprehensive thematic tracks, designed to address every facet of the digital divide:
- Infrastructure and Technologies for Universal Connectivity
- Policy, Regulation, and Sustainable Financing
- Rural and Community-Centric Connectivity Innovations
- Digital Transformation: Smart Cities, Education, Health, 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
A key focus of the summit will be addressing Nigeria’s significant connectivity gap. Okafor revealed that the IEEE is exploring deeper collaboration with the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) to find innovative ways to connect over 100 million Nigerians currently outside access coverage.
The event will heavily feature discussions on sustainable financing, aiming to attract financial institutions to provide facilities that aid small operators in deploying telecom infrastructure in rural areas.
Event Highlights: Keynotes, Startups, and Exhibitions
Attendees can expect a dynamic agenda featuring:
- Keynote addresses from global technology leaders and senior policymakers.
- Panel discussions with local and international experts.
- Paper presentations and workshops on cutting-edge research.
- An exhibition area showcasing innovative connectivity solutions.
- A dedicated startup session with potential investor engagement, including conversations with industry giants like Nokia.
Ultimately, the CTU Africa 25 Summit seeks to position Africa, and Nigeria in particular, as an innovation hub rather than just a consumer market.
By bringing together engineers, policymakers, and business leaders, the event aims to create a actionable roadmap to bridge the digital frontier for millions.
