By 
All set: Nigeria to Host IEEE CTU Africa Summit 2025 for the First Time
Nigeria is set to make history as it welcomes the IEEE Connecting the Unconnected (CTU) Africa Summit 2025 for the first time. The landmark event will take place from November 27–28, 2025, at Baze University, Abuja, gathering global and African experts committed to closing the continent’s digital divide.
RELATED: Nigeria’s engineering body backs IEEE Summit as APC Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda confirmed as keynote
With the theme “Bridging Digital Frontiers: African Solutions for Universal Connectivity,” the summit aims to accelerate conversations and inspire actionable solutions for communities that remain underserved or entirely unconnected.
The keynote address will be delivered by Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, electrical engineer and National Chairman of the APC, who will set the tone for Africa’s bold journey toward universal connectivity.
A Continental Summit at a Defining Moment for Africa
CTU Africa 25 forms part of the wider IEEE CTUS-EMEA Summit, arriving at a time when digital access has become central to economic competitiveness, national security, and social transformation. Nigeria’s hosting underscores its strategic role in shaping Africa’s digital future.
Eight Strategic Tracks Targeting Africa’s Connectivity Barriers
The summit is structured around eight high-impact thematic tracks designed to address both technical and socio-economic challenges hindering universal connectivity:
- Infrastructure and Technologies for Universal Connectivity
- Policy, Regulation, and Sustainable Financing
- Rural and Community-Centric Connectivity Innovations
- Digital Transformation: Smart Cities, Education, Health & Agriculture
- Regional Cooperation & One Africa Network Initiatives
- Sustainable Power & Energy for Connected Communities
- People, Policy, and Sustainability
- Cybersecurity, Data Protection & Critical Infrastructure
These tracks ensure diverse perspectives—engineering, policy, finance, and community engagement—are integrated into scalable, sustainable solutions.
High-Profile Speakers Lead Africa’s Connectivity Movement
One of the biggest strengths of CTU Africa 25 is its powerhouse lineup—leaders who will shape, challenge, and refine Africa’s connectivity agenda. This year’s speaker list is one of the most robust ever assembled for a digital development summit on the continent.
Featured Speakers Include:
- Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi – Director General, NITDA; champion of Nigeria’s digital economy reforms
- Rex Mafiana – MD/CEO, FPG Technologies; cybersecurity and
- enterprise systems expert
- Terwase Gbande-Hembaor – DG, Benue State ICT Agency; digital inclusion advocate
- Dr. Femi Adeluyi – Head, Partnerships & Strategic Alliances, NITDA
- Ibrahim M. Abdullahi – ICT4D & Public Health Specialist
- Dr. Ankit R. Patel – CIO, Bits Green Technolabs; global green ICT specialist
- Bhaskara Rallabandi – Co-Founder/CTO, InVences; digital infrastructure innovator
- Jane Egerton-Idehen – MD/CEO, NIGCOMSAT; satellite technology and national communications expert
- Chuks Onuoha – Former GGM IT, NNPC; enterprise ICT strategist
- Ikechukwu Ibeawuchi – Government Affairs Lead, Cisco Nigeria
This cross-disciplinary lineup combines policymaking, engineering, enterprise solutions, satellite communication, and public sector innovation—reflecting Africa’s urgent need for collaboration to close its connectivity gaps.
Why CTU Africa 25 Matters for Nigeria and the Continent
Over 2.9 billion people globally remain offline, a large percentage of whom are in Africa. The consequences are far-reaching—limited access to education, healthcare, jobs, digital services, markets, and public participation.
For Nigeria’s telecom operators, ISPs, ICT leaders, and policymakers, the summit offers:
- New strategies for reaching rural and underserved communities
- Access to technologies that reduce infrastructure and deployment costs
- Direct engagement with regulators and global experts
- A platform to influence future connectivity policies
- International networking and investment opportunities
- A chance to showcase Nigeria’s homegrown innovations
Connectivity is not just a technology issue—it influences gender equity, telemedicine, digital learning, national resilience, and the future of work.
Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators
CTU Africa 25 will also open its doors to students nationwide. Young innovators will interact with global experts, participate in technical workshops, and witness the IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Challenge finals, featuring practical, high-impact prototypes designed for real-world deployment.
Nigeria Steps Forward
As the countdown begins, Nigeria’s tech ecosystem—Telcos, ISPs, regulators, engineers, innovators, academia, and development partners—is urged to participate.
With a bold theme, eight transformational tracks, and one of Africa’s strongest speaker rosters, CTU Africa 25 is more than a summit—it is a movement, a turning point, and a catalyst for Africa’s connected future.
