The Future of AI in Africa Must Include Women

As we recently celebrated African Women's Day, I've been reflecting on one important question:

How do we ensure African women are not left behind in the AI era?

For me, the answer goes beyond awareness. It is about creating practical opportunities for women—especially experienced professionals and those from non-technical backgrounds—to understand, use, and benefit from AI in their everyday work and careers.

That belief is what inspired AI for Her—an initiative committed to expanding AI literacy, digital skills, and practical AI adoption among women across Africa. One of the ways we bring this vision to life is through our annual AI for Her Summit, held each year to mark International Women's Day.

Earlier this year, we hosted AI for Her Summit 2.0, bringing together women for three days of practical learning focused on AI, digital skills, workplace productivity, and the future of work. Our goal wasn't to teach complex technology—it was to help women confidently take their first steps into using AI in ways that are relevant to their professions, careers, businesses, and everyday lives.

One of the most rewarding moments was seeing participants realise that AI is not just for software developers or data scientists. It is a practical tool that educators, HR professionals, entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals, business leaders, and professionals from every field can use to work smarter, solve problems, and remain relevant in a rapidly changing world.

This is the impact we hope to continue creating, helping more women move from curiosity to confidence, and from awareness to practical AI adoption.

I'm deeply grateful to our speakers, volunteers, participants, and partners who made this possible. A special thank you to Guardian Woman for partnering with us and amplifying our mission, and to WomenTech Network and our international partners for supporting our shared vision of expanding AI literacy and digital inclusion across Africa.

As we reflect on this year's African Women's Day, I believe one of the greatest investments we can make in African women is ensuring they have access to the AI knowledge and digital skills that will shape the future of work and the digital economy.

This is only the beginning. We look forward to continuing this journey through AI for Her and welcoming even more women to AI for Her Summit 3.0.

Read more about AI for Her Summit 2.0 and our partnership with Guardian Woman

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