African leaders attending the second annual Moonshot by TechCabal conference in Nigeria have called for stronger public-private sector partnerships to bolster Africa’s role in the global digital economy. The high-level pan-African Ministerial panel session took place on September 9, bringing together delegates from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Mauritania to discuss how African countries can enhance their tech ecosystems to compete globally.
The panel, which included Kashifu Inuwa Abdullah (Director General, NITDA, Nigeria), Dr. Augustina Odame (CEO, Ghana Chamber of Technology), David Manley (Chief Advisor Technology, Sierra Leone), and Marieme Kane (Director of Innovation, Ministry of Digital Transformation, Mauritania), examined strategies for strengthening Africa’s digital presence beyond policies. The session, titled ‘Building Digital Economies for the World: How African Countries are Shaping their Tech Economies’, highlighted the importance of infrastructure development and strategic partnerships to accelerate growth.
Dr. Augustina Odame stressed the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors to mobilize resources and create investment opportunities for large-scale digital projects. “We’ve seen a lot of private-public sector partnerships fail, but it’s essential. It’s a key way we are going to finance the massive capital infrastructure needed for development,” she noted.
Day 1 of the conference, held at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, also featured a fireside chat with Dr. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Federal Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, and Tomiwa Aladekomo, CEO of Big Cabal Media. The new content track titled ‘Government, Policy & Regulation’ provided a platform to address pressing challenges and allowed participants to engage directly with the Minister. Dr. Tijani emphasized the ministry’s focus on talent development through the Three Million Technical Talents (3MTT) programme, stating, “If technology is to drive growth in Nigeria, the government must invest in talent very early.”
Tomiwa Aladekomo underscored the need for African tech companies to adopt a global outlook to stay competitive. “The world is moving fast. If our companies are to achieve growth rates and markets that lead to successful exits, we must go further afield. While Africa is our foundation, we must build for the world if we are to thrive,” he said.
The conference also addressed cross-border payment challenges in Africa. Experts pointed out complex regulations and settlement delays as major hurdles. Moyo Sodipo, co-founder and COO of Busha, highlighted the need for continuous engagement with regulators, stating, “Fintechs must stay ahead of changing regulations. The regulatory landscape is constantly evolving, so maintaining a close relationship with regulators is crucial.”
Sponsored by Sabi, Africa’s leading digital commerce infrastructure provider, Moonshot by TechCabal 2024 welcomed over 3,000 delegates from across the continent. Prominent figures in attendance included Kola Aina (Founding Partner, Ventures Platform), Olumide Soyombo (Founder, Voltron Capital), and Babajide Duroshola (General Manager, M-KOPA). The event concluded with a call for continued collaboration between governments, investors, and innovators to ensure Africa’s digital transformation remains inclusive and sustainable.
Each year, Moonshot by TechCabal brings together tech investors, telecom companies, big tech firms, startups, and key stakeholders in Africa’s tech ecosystem. Sponsored by notable organizations like 54 Collective, Raenest, Sparkle, Cchub, Budpay, Cardtonic, ZedCrest, and Vendy, this year’s event has set the stage for even greater anticipation for Moonshot 2025.
