Sylvia Duruson
October has been tagged as “Techtober” due to the many tech product launches and events that traditionally happen during the month. This October is no different in Africa, with various conferences, summits, and exhibitions taking place across the continent. These events highlight Africa’s growing technology and innovation ecosystems.
In Kenya, the Devimpact Institute is organising a training program on advanced mobile data collection using ODK-X, an open-source data collection platform. This hands-on training will run from October 9-20 in Nairobi.
The Safaricom Engineering Summit on October 11-12 in Nairobi brings together various stakeholders in Kenya’s tech community to discuss trends like artificial intelligence and the metaverse. Safaricom, Kenya’s largest telco, hosts the summit annually.
Tunisia will host the AfricArena AI & EdTech Summit on October 11-12, focusing on artificial intelligence and education technology innovations shaping Africa’s future. AfricArena is a Switzerland-based pan-African tech platform.
Nigeria will see two prominent events in October. TechCabal, a leading African media company, will hold its flagship Moonshot event from October 11-12. The Digital Nigeria Conference hosted by the National Information Technology Development Agency occurs on October 15.
The AfriLabs Annual Gathering in Kigali from October 11-13 connects hubs, labs, startups, and investors across Africa to exchange ideas and form partnerships. Rwandan capital Kigali will also host the GSMA’s MWC Africa telecoms event from October 17-19.
Ethiopia is organising the Global Startup Awards Africa 2022 from October 26-28. The event, facilitated by the Ethiopian government and Global Innovation Initiative Group, aims to highlight African tech innovation on a global stage.
Other October conferences and workshops span mobile data collection, artificial intelligence, health technology, venture capital, and professional development. Countries hosting events include Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, and Tunisia.
October’s busy African tech event calendar indicates the sector’s rapid evolution and rising prominence. As 5G, blockchain, AI, and other emerging technologies take hold in Africa, platforms to develop skills, exchange ideas, network, and share innovations become more important. The continent’s “Techtober” happenings assemble key players driving Africa’s tech transformation.
