The two-day conference, themed “The Big Bold Step,” brought together telecoms operators, global technology firms, startups, investors, students and public-sector leaders at Landmark Event Centre to discuss what it will take for Africa to stop lagging and start building platforms of its own.

From keynote sessions to fireside chats and product showcases, the conference stressed that the limitations initially preventing African companies from competing at scale are fading away, but hesitation remains highly expensive.

Glory Olamigoke, co-founder and co-convener of Tech Revolution Africa, said the conference was designed to close a persistent gap in the ecosystem.

“We are trying to solve a number of problems and close a number of gaps, but perhaps the most critical one is bridging the gap between the early stage innovators, builders, founders in the ecosystem and the leaders in the space,” he said.

Unlike typical industry gatherings, Olamigoke said the event was intentionally structured to bring founders and decision-makers into the same room, while also extending its reach beyond established stakeholders.

“We are going all the way down to the secondary schools, the primary schools, because we believe that if we can start to culture these young ones, then we will be able to influence the next generation,” he said, pointing to the student tech debates introduced at this year’s edition.

That emphasis on long-term capacity building was reiterated through the day’s conversations, including a fireside chat with the Federal Government, represented by Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Olatunbosun Alake.

Drawing from Nigeria’s reputation challenges abroad, Alake said that while technology is important, Africa’s potential cannot be realised without addressing surrounding challenges, including Nigeria’s image abroad.

“It’s not a technology conversation,” he said. “It’s a conversation that is at the very bottom of the motivation behind everything.”

He urged young professionals to engage the public sector rather than avoid it, describing the work as difficult but impactful. “By all means, do that, because you will have an impact, but make sure that your principles and your values remain strong,” he said.

MTN Nigeria’s keynote on the digital economy forecast for 2026, delivered by its Chief Information Officer, Shoyinka Shodunke, went beyond a focus on growth projections. 

Shodunke traced Africa’s marginal role across previous industrial revolutions and warned that the fourth leaves little room for delay.

“The inputs today are data, and where’s the factory? The factory sits in the cloud,” he said, adding that talent is no longer bound by geography and computing power no longer requires heavy capital outlay.

He pointed to cloud subscriptions available “at $50” compared to six-figure infrastructure costs in the past, arguing that scale is now accessible to startups and enterprises alike. But he warned that comfort with legacy revenue streams could still hold organisations back.

“You cannot live with a legacy mindset, a fear of disruption, or the comfort of mediocrity,” Shodunke said.

Using MTN as a case study, he explained how the telecoms giant has had to intentionally disrupt itself, moving beyond voice and data into cloud services, fintech and intelligent platforms layered on top of its network infrastructure.

The focus on infrastructure continued during MTN’s product showcase, where Onome Ologe and Tobechukwu Ajoku outlined the company’s local cloud services, emphasising data residency, naira-based pricing and predictable operating costs for Nigerian businesses.

“If you’re a CFO or a founder and you need to know cost accountability, you can go to sleep,” Ajoku said, noting that pricing remains stable regardless of foreign exchange volatility.

From infrastructure, the conversation at Tech Revolution Africa 2.0 moved into data and artificial intelligence during a presentation by Ligadata’s Mike Penner, who revealed the scale of its partnership with MTN Nigeria’s data operations.

“We now are running at 1.2 trillion pet records, 1.4 million records per second,” Penner said, describing a system designed to turn fragmented enterprise data into real-time, actionable intelligence.

“What we’ve done over the past few years at MTN together is something extraordinary,” he said, adding that the goal was not experimentation but measurable value creation.

Penner noted that African enterprises must treat data and knowledge as sovereign assets, warning against outsourcing intelligence without understanding what drives it.

That theme of sovereignty and control resurfaced during a panel on open innovation and hybrid platforms featuring executives from Red Hat and Redington. 

Speakers explained that open-source software and hybrid cloud models offer African companies flexibility without locking them into single platforms or geographies.

“Open source is driving innovation.” It is a condition of innovation, particularly for startups seeking speed without prohibitive expenses.

During a fireside chat on Global Tech & the African Market, Soji Maurice-Diya, CEO of ntel (NatCom), emphasized the need for Africa to focus on solving its own problems rather than simply chasing global trends.

He said, “Nobody’s going to solve our problems for us. Yes, we need global access, we need all the technology that’s available, taper all of the solutions and build our own solutions.”

Maurice-Diya added that African companies should prioritise innovation that addresses local challenges, ensuring technology creates measurable impact rather than just replicating global models.

Equinix’s Ayomide Jones, EMEA Business Development, West Africa, also spoke on the role of interconnection in Africa’s digital growth. She highlighted how networks, content and cloud providers work together to enhance modern businesses. 

“Everything we use nowadays to solve our problems is content. This is only possible because of interconnection,” Jones said. 

She explained that Equinix’s data centres in Lagos and across Africa enable startups and enterprises to connect to cloud services, financial systems, and global platforms without heavy upfront investment, creating the infrastructure that allows African businesses to scale quickly.

For all the talk of opportunity, speakers repeatedly returned to execution as the differentiator. “We always talk, so now, let’s go back and execute,” Olamigoke said.

Day Two of Tech Revolution Africa Conference 2.0 continues on Saturday, with further sessions on policy, investment, emerging technologies and the role of African enterprises in strengthening the continent’s digital economy.

The post Tech Revolution Africa 2.0: MTN, Experts Urge Continent to Harness Cloud, Data and Talent to Compete Globally appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

PMI’s participation at the event reflects its focus on connecting with a diverse audience critical to Africa’s technological growth.

Effective project management is critical to ensuring success as digital transformation reshapes industries across the continent.

PMI’s certifications, like the Project Management Professional (PMP), are globally recognised as the gold standard for project leaders, equipping them with the tools and methodologies needed to drive innovation and deliver results.

The need for structured project execution, stakeholder management, and strategic planning is growing rapidly, especially as organisations navigate complex technological shifts.

PMI helps address these challenges by fostering a workforce capable of managing projects in an agile, cost-effective, and scalable manner.

Digital transformation initiatives require a combination of strategic oversight and precise execution, making certified professionals uniquely equipped to lead in this space.

“Technological innovation is accelerating across Africa, creating both opportunities and challenges. At PMI, we are dedicated to empowering the tech ecosystem with the skills and certifications to manage this complexity, deliver successful projects, and shape a brighter future,” said George Asamani, managing director, Sub-Saharan Africa, PMI.

At the event, PMI will showcase its globally recognised certifications, such as the PMP, Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), as well as its dynamic Membership benefits and PMI Infinity 2.0, an AI-powered project management coach designed to deepen expertise, master complex topics, and elevate execution to drive project success.

Powered by GPT-4o (omni), PMI Infinity 2.0 is optimised for quicker and more accurate results with an expanded knowledge base from firms like Cognilytica, Green Project Management & Centre for Creative Leadership.

With new document generation capabilities and custom templates, PMI Infinity users can benefit from enhanced efficiency, productivity, and optimised workflows. Users can now input project details to create and refine essential documents for project-based work, such as project charter documents.

Studies show certified project managers deliver projects more successfully, improving productivity and reducing costly delays.

According to the PMI’s Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey, project managers with PMP certification earn higher median salaries than those without PMP certification, 33% higher on average across the 21 countries surveyed.

PMP-certified project professionals in Nigeria demonstrated an even greater lift, reporting an increase of 60% in median salary compared to their non-certified peers.

PMI membership further enhances this advantage by providing unparalleled opportunities for learning, collaboration, and professional growth. Members gain access to global thought leadership, advanced tools, and exclusive insights to tackle the complexities of the digital age.

With mentorship opportunities, networking events, and a supportive global community, PMI membership empowers tech professionals to transform challenges into opportunities and advance their careers.

“Project professionals turn to PMI for cutting-edge resources and methodologies to drive transformation in their careers, organisations, and industries. Through our recent partnership with Agile Alliance and  Cognilytica’s acquisition we are expanding access to Agile resources while pioneering the integration of AI into project management. These advancements will empower professionals to lead confidently and navigate the complexities of AI-driven transformation on a global scale,” adds Asamani.

Attendees are invited to visit PMI’s booth at the Tech Revolution Africa, Oriental Hotel, Lagos, on January 31st and February 1st, 2025, to explore certification programmes, experience PMI Infinity, and connect with industry leaders shaping Africa’s digital future.

“This strategic partnership between PMI and Tech Revolution Africa further strengthens the vibrant tech ecosystem, expanding the frontiers for more project professionals amongst innovators and the brightest talents you can find in Africa,” said David Ogebe, co-founder of Tech Revolution Africa.

The post PMI Drives Digital Transformation at Tech Revolution Africa 2025 appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.