…As policy makers, investors meet in Lagos to shape digital future
As Africa races to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computing and digital payments, industry leaders say the continent’s biggest challenge is no longer innovation but building the infrastructure needed to support the next generation of digital services.
That challenge will take centre stage in September when policymakers, investors, technology companies and infrastructure operators gather in Lagos for the third edition of Hyperscalers Convergence Africa (HCA) 2026, themed “Africa’s Great Digital Buildout.”
The summit comes at a time when demand for AI, cloud services, streaming platforms, fintech and digital government services is rising rapidly across Africa, placing enormous pressure on data centres, fibre networks, electricity supply and cloud infrastructure.
Read also: Nigeria eyes $1.9bn data centre boom amid 90% offshore data risk
Organised by The Africa Hyperscalers Company, the event aims to move discussions beyond ambition to practical solutions for financing and building Africa’s digital backbone.
Speaking ahead of the event, Temitope Osunrinde, executive director of Africa Hyperscalers, said Africa’s digital future will depend on infrastructure decisions being made today.
According to him, HCA 2026 will bring together governments, investors and technology firms to address difficult questions around regulation, connectivity, cloud computing, AI, capital investment and data sovereignty.
Africa remains one of the world’s fastest-growing digital markets but still suffers from limited data centre capacity, unreliable electricity, expensive internet connectivity and inadequate fibre infrastructure. These challenges have slowed cloud adoption and increased the cost of digital services for businesses and consumers.
The conference will feature discussions on digital infrastructure financing, AI readiness, cloud adoption, regional digital integration, connectivity resilience and enterprise demand.
Current confirmed speakers include Amine Idriss Adoum, director of economy- infrastructure, Trade, AU-NEPAD, African Union Development Agency; Ayotunde Coker, chief executive officer, Open Access Data Centres; Nonye Ujam, director, government affairs, West Africa, Microsoft; Temitope Osunrinde, executive director, Africa Hyperscalers; Gary Chomse, regional director, Vertiv; Dotun Adekunle, chief operating officer/chief technical officer, OPay; Guy Zibi, managing partner, Xalam Analytics; Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, director general/chief executive officer, National Information Technology Development Agency; Chiderah Ike-Okonkwo, Africa Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Nina Jojer Africa; Begna Gebreyes, senior vice president, Investments, Africa Finance Corporation; Muhammed Rudman, chief executive officer, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria; Chukwuemeka Ujam mni, managing partner, Nina Jojer Africa; Fiona Asonga, chief executive officer, Technology Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK); Kanwulia Okafor, director, Industry Services (Africa) GSMA,and Jane Munga, Fellow, Carnegie Africa Program.
The event will also honour some of Africa’s most influential digital pioneers, including Funke Opeke, Strive Masiyiwa, Andile Ngcaba and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo for their contributions to the continent’s digital transformation.
The summit comes at a critical moment as governments compete to attract hyperscale cloud providers and AI investments. With digital infrastructure increasingly seen as essential to economic growth, experts believe Africa’s ability to finance data centres, strengthen power supply and expand high-speed connectivity will determine whether it becomes a global AI hub or remains largely a consumer of digital technologies.
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