NAIROBI, Kenya — The Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, in conjunction with the ICT Authority, has announced an extension for the submission deadline for the Connected Africa Summit 2024 Innovation Awards. Originally set to close on March 22, 2024, the new deadline is now March 28, 2024. This adjustment aims to accommodate a broader array of African innovators eager to showcase their technology-driven solutions at the upcoming inaugural summit scheduled for April 21-25, 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya.

According to Kenya News Agency, the call for entries welcomes innovative proposals across various sectors, including Health, Trade and E-commerce, Smart Cities and Mobility, Education, Agriculture, Climate Change, Green Technology, and the Creative industry, with a particular emphasis on AI-driven solutions. Interested participants can submit their entries through an online form available at the ICT Authority’s website.

The Connected Africa Summit, under the theme “Shaping the Future of a Connected Africa: Unlocking Growth Beyond Connectivity,” aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, focusing on ICT as a pivotal sector for the continent’s advancement. The event anticipates the congregation of African Heads of State and Government, First Ladies, Ministers of ICT, e-commerce, and the Digital Economy, alongside global ICT leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors.

The summit is set to draw over 2,000 delegates, fostering high-level discussions aimed at addressing Africa’s pressing ICT challenges, exploring new investment avenues, and strategizing towards a digital and paperless governance framework. Furthermore, the event will provide a strategic platform for African nations to coordinate their technological policies and initiatives in anticipation of the UN Summit of the Future slated for September 2024.