About Us

About the Project

African Leadership University ALU initiated the AI in Africa Research Project in response to the growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on economies and societies across Sub-Saharan Africa. Recognizing both the opportunities and risks AI presents, particularly in relation to poverty, hunger, and disease, ALU sought to generate comprehensive research that would inform policymakers, businesses, and civil society on responsible AI development and deployment in the region.

The key focus areas are education, agriculture, health, and SME enablement, which were identified based on their critical role in economic growth and social well-being. These sectors face significant challenges that AI could help address, from improving access to quality education to enhancing agricultural productivity and strengthening healthcare systems. The research aims to assess AI’s potential to drive innovation while ensuring ethical considerations and governance frameworks are in place.

The selection of participating countries was based on various factors, including their differing levels of AI adoption, existing policy frameworks, and diverse economic and social landscapes. The participating countries include Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Rwanda, and Togo. This approach ensures that the findings provide a broad and representative view of the region’s AI ecosystem.

Key stakeholders, including governments, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector, were engaged to provide insights and shape the research process. Their involvement ensures that the findings are academically rigorous but also practical and actionable. A series of roundtables, sector-specific deep dives, and high-profile convenings will facilitate dialogue, gather feedback, and drive policy discussions, culminating in a final report that informs AI governance and strategy across Africa.

Timeline

Here’s a brief overview of what happened at each of the AI in Africa Stakeholder Roundtables held in Kigali, Ghana, and South Africa:

Kigali Roundtable (Rwanda)

  • Theme: Leveraging AI for sustainable development and public service delivery.
  • Key Focus: How AI can be applied across sectors like health, agriculture, education, and government.
  • Stakeholders: Included government officials, AI researchers, development partners, and regional institutions.
  • Highlights:
  • Discussion on Rwanda’s leadership in digital transformation.
  • Emphasis on the importance of data infrastructure and governance.
  • Need for regional collaboration and harmonised policies.
  • Interest in responsible AI development that aligns with African values.

Ghana Roundtable

  • Theme: Building inclusive AI ecosystems.
  • Key Focus: Capacity building, innovation support, and youth engagement in AI.
  • Stakeholders: Government agencies, tech start-ups, academia, and civil society groups.
  • Highlights:
  • Spotlight on local AI innovations and research.
  • Challenges around skills development and funding for AI ventures.
  • Calls for public-private partnerships to scale up AI initiatives.
  • Emphasis on gender inclusion and ethical AI use.

South Africa Roundtable

  • Theme: Scaling AI for economic transformation.
  • Key Focus: AI adoption in industry, policy frameworks, and job creation.
  • Stakeholders: National policymakers, corporates, labour unions, and research institutions.
  • Highlights:
  • Strong discussion on balancing automation with employment.
  • Importance of national AI strategies and regulatory clarity.
  • Concerns around data privacy and cyber security.
  • Encouragement for cross-sector collaboration and skills alignment.

Research Team

Chuma Mushita

AI in SME Enablement Research Lead

Chuma is a Consultant at Africa Practice, working in the Insights practice area. His main focus is on user insights and regulatory impact assessment where he conducts and manages research, developing methodologies to understand and quantify impact, and investigating complex socio-economic questions. Before joining Africa Practice, Chuma spent four years as an Impact Analyst and Manager for non-profit organisations working in the Education, Farming and Financial Inclusion spheres. He has extensive experience in the design and implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation tools, data collection processes and impact analysis. Having grown up in South Africa and worked for non-profit organisations, he is particularly interested in the individual and collaborative role of the private sector, government and non-profit organisations in sustainable socio-economic development. He holds a BCom (Honours) in Economics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Amaka Yvonne Onyemenam

AI in Education Research Lead

Amaka is an Advisor at Africa Practice UK, where she leads tech and digital economy mandates across the African continent. With over nine years of experience, she empowers technology companies, investors, and governments to navigate Africa’s complex political, policy, and regulatory landscapes. Amaka delivers strategic policy advisory, business intelligence, technical research and innovative solutions to shape impactful policy responses, foster strategic partnerships, and mitigate risks.

Her expertise spans digital financial services, AI, cloud, edtech, digital taxation, social media, OTT, energy, ride-hailing, broadcasting, cybersecurity, digital financial services, financial inclusion and philanthropies. Amaka has a proven track record of helping organisations align their engagement efforts with stakeholder priorities while advancing their advocacy and reputational goals.

A thought leader in the digital economy space, Amaka co-authored the African Union’s Startup Policy Framework and Model Law, driving forward progressive policies that enable innovation and collaboration. Before joining Africa Practice, she honed her legal skills in corporate law and advised the Nigerian government on asset tracing and debt recovery.

Amaka holds a Law degree from the University of Warwick and is a qualified lawyer. She is also a member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group’s Digital Economy Policy Commission. Known for her ability to translate policy shifts and market trends into actionable strategic insights, she consistently positions partners to thrive in dynamic and evolving African markets.

A thought leader in the digital economy space, Amaka co-authored the African Union’s Startup Policy Framework and Model Law, driving forward progressive policies that enable innovation and collaboration. Before joining Africa Practice, she honed her legal skills in corporate law and advised the Nigerian government on asset tracing and debt recovery. Amaka holds a Law degree from the University of Warwick and is a qualified lawyer. She is also a member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group’s Digital Economy Policy Commission. Known for her ability to translate policy shifts and market trends into actionable strategic insights, she consistently positions partners to thrive in dynamic and evolving African markets.

David Chen

AI in Health Research Lead

David Chen is a visionary leader and cofounder of Kapsule, a pioneering healthcare data analytics company that’s mission is to become the go-to experts of healthcare data in Africa, by unlocking the power of healthcare data. With a background in Genetics and over 7 years of pharmaceutical consulting experience, David is helping Kapsule to revolutionize African healthcare by collecting, aggregating, and standardizing data from across Africa. This helps their customers to conduct research, unlock commercial opportunities, and boost clinical trial capacity across the continent.

Simon Woodland

AI in Agriculture Research Lead

Simon Woodland is a seasoned management consultant with over 30 years of experience in professional services. His expertise includes mergers and acquisitions, valuations, and financial forecasting. Early in his career, Simon focused on high-end strategy consulting and capital-raising for start-ups. He has served as CFO for two telecom companies and a Pay-TV operator. Recently, he has concentrated on business intelligence, stakeholder management, and creating dashboards for data presentation. As an effective trainer, Simon teaches Telecoms mini-MBA, negotiation skills, and financial understanding.