African artificial intelligence leaders, technology companies, investors and policymakers are calling for deeper collaboration to help locally developed AI solutions move from promising ideas to large-scale impact across the continent.
The call was made during the Deep Learning Indaba 2026, where Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, joined other key players in Africa’s AI ecosystem to discuss the future of artificial intelligence on the continent.
Dr. Tijani stressed that Africa’s AI ambitions will require stakeholders to work together rather than operate in isolation. He highlighted the importance of building an ecosystem in which governments, businesses, researchers, investors and startups can support the development and deployment of technologies designed to address Africa’s specific needs.
The discussions brought together representatives from organisations including the AI Hub for Sustainable Development, Nigeria AI Scaling Hub (NAISH), African Development Bank Group, Gates Foundation, minoHealth AI Labs, Horus Labs, Amini, Lelapa AI and DeepLeaf, alongside other technology and innovation organisations.
A major focus of the conversation was how Africa can move beyond experimenting with AI and develop the infrastructure, partnerships and policies needed to deploy locally developed solutions at scale.
Participants pointed to several areas where homegrown AI could have a significant impact. These include offline voice technologies for communities with limited internet access, energy-efficient computing and data-centre infrastructure, and AI applications supporting agriculture and food security.
Despite the growing number of African startups developing AI solutions, stakeholders acknowledged that many companies still face significant barriers to expansion. Difficulties with government and corporate procurement, limited access to major markets, concerns around trust and a lack of appropriate infrastructure can make it difficult for promising technologies to reach the people who need them most.
Speakers therefore called for stronger connections between governments, major corporations, investors and African technology innovators. Such partnerships, they argued, could create clearer pathways for locally developed AI products to secure funding, gain customers and expand beyond their initial markets.
The discussions were also linked to wider efforts involving G7 AI for Development donors and the AI Hub for Sustainable Development, aimed at encouraging a more coordinated approach to AI development across Africa.
The overall message from the session was clear: Africa has the talent and innovative capacity to develop AI solutions that respond to its own challenges, but collaboration will be essential to turn those innovations into sustainable, continent-wide impact.
By strengthening cooperation across the public and private sectors and creating better opportunities for African innovators to scale, stakeholders believe the continent can play a much bigger role in shaping the global future of artificial intelligence.
