By Boris Esono Nwenfor
BUEA, PAV – African governments must significantly increase investment in digital infrastructure, skills development and technology-driven entrepreneurship if the continent is to fully harness the opportunities presented by the digital economy, experts have said.
The call was made during a webinar organised by the Cameroon Economic Policy Institute (CEPI) in partnership with the Free Tech Institute of Burundi and SADI of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on July 17, 2026.
Held under the theme “The Role of Digital Freedom in Promoting Innovation and Prosperity in Africa,” the online discussion examined how greater access to digital technologies can stimulate innovation, create jobs and promote economic development while identifying obstacles slowing Africa’s digital transformation.
Haiwang Djamo, CEPI’s National Coordinator, said Africa was undergoing rapid digital transformation but continued to face significant challenges, including inadequate digital infrastructure, limited internet access, inequalities in technology access and fragmented regulatory frameworks.
He stressed that addressing these barriers was essential if digitalisation was to become a meaningful driver of economic prosperity. The panel brought together Henri Kouam, Executive Director of CEPI; Barakana, Co-founder and Director of Operations at the Free Tech Institute; and Danny Bazhire, Executive Director of SADI.
Henri Kouam argued that digital freedom should go beyond simply providing people with internet access. He said it should enable citizens to create businesses, develop innovative solutions and use technology to address challenges specific to African societies.
He pointed to companies operating in Cameroon, including Yango, Jumia and Bayam, as examples of the potential of digital businesses to generate employment and encourage entrepreneurship.
The CEPI executive also highlighted the importance of young people in Africa’s digital transformation. With nearly 60 per cent of Cameroon’s population below the age of 35, he said the country has a significant pool of potential digital entrepreneurs and professionals.
According to Kouam, Africa requires more developers, cybersecurity specialists, information technology professionals and other highly skilled workers capable of supporting the continent’s growing digital economy.
Digital tools and social media offer opportunities
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bazhire said digital tools and social media similarly offer opportunities for wealth creation but remain underutilised, particularly in rural communities. He called for greater efforts to equip young people with the skills needed to build businesses, access international markets and acquire knowledge through digital platforms.
The discussion also focused on the digital divide affecting several African countries. Barakana noted that low internet penetration in Burundi continues to restrict the ability of citizens and businesses to benefit from digital technologies. He stressed that infrastructure and human capital investment must go hand in hand.
Barakana cited mobile money innovations developed in Africa as evidence that the continent can create technological solutions adapted to its own realities rather than relying entirely on foreign models.
The experts also identified insecurity as another obstacle to digital development. Bazhire noted that armed conflicts in parts of the DRC have made investment in digital infrastructure more difficult, further excluding communities from the digital economy. Kouam, meanwhile, called for African countries to strengthen their digital sovereignty by developing local infrastructure and training specialists in areas such as cybersecurity, information and communication technology and software development.
The panellists said governments have an important role to play in creating an environment where innovation can flourish. Bazhire called for the reduction of regulatory and tax barriers that increase the cost of digital services, while Barakana advocated greater support for startups, incubators and intellectual property protection.
Kouam stressed that government investment in digital infrastructure must be accompanied by respect for individual freedoms and protection against excessive control of digital data.
The webinar concluded with calls for increased investment in rural digital infrastructure, stronger training programmes for young people, improved access to startup financing and the development of homegrown digital infrastructure.
Participants also advocated regulatory reforms that encourage innovation, efforts to narrow the digital divide and greater use of AfCFTA opportunities to promote technology-driven trade. CEPI, the Free Tech Institute and SADI reaffirmed their commitment to promoting policies that strengthen digital freedom and support technology as a tool for innovation, job creation and sustainable prosperity across Africa.
