The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) says it is in talks with Nokia in order to showcase startups at the upcoming Connecting the Unconnected (CTU) Africa Summit 2025.
IEEE General Conference Chair for the summit, Chukwuemeka Okafor, made this known in a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the maiden summit scheduled to hold from Nov. 27 to Nov. 28 has the theme: “Bridging Digital Frontiers: African Solutions for Universal Connectivity.”
Okafor said that a special startup showcase would enable African innovators to present their solutions to potential investors, adding that IEEE was already in talks with Nokia to support this initiative.
He said the event would give stakeholders an opportunity to address Africa’s connectivity challenges and opportunities and deliberate on regional collaboration models.
He also said that the programme would position Africa, particularly Nigeria, who is the host, to be an innovation hub, not just a consumer market but to take internet connectivity to the underserved and unreached areas.
Okafor noted that the summit would revolve around eight critical tracks, with each targeting a key pillar of Africa’s connectivity ecosystem.
The tracks include Infrastructure and Technologies for Universal Connectivity, policy, regulation, sustainability, financing and receptivity community-centric connectivity innovations, and digital transformation: (Smart Cities, Education, Health, and Agriculture).
“Others are Regional Cooperation: One Africa Network and Cross-Border Initiatives, Sustainable Power and Energy for Connected Communities, people, policy, and sustainability, Cybersecurity, data protection, and critical infrastructure.
According to Okafor, the summit will also foster collaboration between governments, industry players, and development partners, with the ultimate goal of developing actionable policy recommendations for universal connectivity across Africa.
He said that the tracks would bring together all major stakeholders to address Africa’s connectivity gaps from every possible angle.
The conference chair added that the two-day event would feature keynote addresses from global technology leaders, government officials, and policy experts.
“It will also include panel discussions, technical paper presentations, hands-on workshops, and an exhibition area showcasing innovative connectivity solutions,” he said.
Okafor said that the IEEE was also exploring deeper collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), especially in rural telephony initiatives aimed at connecting over 100 million Nigerians currently outside network coverage.
“Part of the discussion will focus on sustainable financing models and policy frameworks that can attract investors to rural connectivity projects.
“The goal is to bring stakeholders together to identify the challenges, opportunities, and data realities while exploring financial models that support small operators focused on rural deployment,” he said.
