The African Technology and Innovation Institutes (ATII) will host the inaugural edition of its flagship event, the African Industrial Forum (AIF), on Thursday, July 10, 2025. Founded by Nigerian-born Professor Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua—the first Black woman globally to earn a PhD in Cybernetics—the virtual summit aims to unite key stakeholders to accelerate Africa’s industrial transformation through smart technologies.

Themed “Africa’s Future: Shaping Global Industries Through Smart Manufacturing, Automation, and Artificial Intelligence,” the forum will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, academics, and youth advocates. It seeks to position Africa as a competitive manufacturing hub by focusing on five core objectives: promoting smart manufacturing using AI and automation, encouraging cross-sector partnerships, equipping youth for tech-driven careers, attracting investment into local production, and addressing industrial skills gaps.

“This isn’t just a summit—it’s a rallying call for Africa,” said Professor Ekeng-Itua, who is based in the United States. “We must unite innovation and purpose to build an industrial future powered by African creativity and excellence. Through this summit, we connect education to jobs, policies to action, and vision to execution.”

Prominent speakers expected at the event include Dr. Kelechi Onyekachi Ofoegbu of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission; research strategist Dr. Akanimo Odon; Ene Macharm of GIZ’s Energising Development (EnDev) programme; AI product management expert Dr. Edem Wornyo; and Adanian Labs Co-Founder, Mr. John Kamara.

The AIF summit is a bold step towards shifting Africa’s role in the global economy—from a consumer base to a production-driven powerhouse. Currently, manufacturing accounts for only 10% of Africa’s GDP. The summit will also explore strategic opportunities such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which could generate up to $450 billion in intra-African trade by 2035.

Key segments of the event include a keynote address on “Africa’s Industrial Renaissance,” a cross-sector panel discussion, and awards recognizing leaders driving African industrialisation. ATII’s partners for this initiative include Arthur Jarvis University, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Adanian Labs, the Cross River State Government, Blue Seal, and Sabi Africa Network.

Participation is free, and the event will take place virtually via Zoom at 3:00 PM WAT. Interested participants can register at: https://aiforum.afritechi2.com/reg/.

About ATII

The African Technology and Innovation Institutes (ATII) is a leading hub for knowledge transfer, bridging research and industry across Africa and Indigenous communities. Through support for policy-relevant research in areas like AI, clean tech, and climate resilience, ATII empowers local innovation to deliver sustainable solutions in healthcare, education, agriculture, and women’s empowerment.