Ghana, UAE $1B tech hub; New Algeria $600M venture fund
Africa AI News weekly digest...
Good morning, and welcome to this week’s issue of Africa AI News – Weekly News Digest.
This week (well, it was last week but the story broke just as we published the AfricaAINews weekly news digest) saw a curious announcement.
The UAE, through its ports operator company, will be building a massive innovation hub to the tune of $1 billion in Accra. Details are scant, and no hint as to why what is described as a tech startup zone will be funded by a ports operator, the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) of Dubai. The deal was signed by the Ghanaian tech minister, Samuel Nartey George and Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, the group chairman and CEO of DP World and the chairman of PCFC.
The PCFC described itself in the announcement as “a leading logistics and supply chain companies and was positioned to execute the project”, which implies a port and free-zone type development with a sprig of AI for flavour. The area, Ningo-Prampram, is a low density residential and beach resort area on the coast just north of Accra. We’re digging for more.
Normally our second story about a $600 million startup accelerator in Algeria would be top billing, but was trumped by the Ghana deal. It’s huge nonetheless: a massive AI-led start-up/scale-up hotbed for north Africa.
Finally we’re seeing proper money being earmarked for tech development on our continent.
On with this week’s issue!
/Roger
Investment
Ghana, UAE sign $1bn deal for tech innovation hub
#Ghana #investment — Ghana and the UAE have signed a $1bn agreement to establish the Ghana-UAE Innovations and Technology Hub in Ningo-Prampram. Led by Dubai’s Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) and “in partnership with leading Dubai AI firms”, the project aims to attract 11,000 firms including Microsoft, Oracle, Meta, Alphabet and IBM. First steps include a 25 square kilometre site for tech development and BPO with the government providing the land for the initiative. (Business Insider)
Algeria launches $600m venture studio for 1,000 startups
#Algeria #investment — Algeria has launched a national venture studio backed by over $600 million in public/private capital to create 1,000 deep tech startups nationwide. The programme, supported by ASF, CERIST, and DeepMinds, prioritises AI and aims to foster a sovereign innovation ecosystem and tens of thousands of jobs. (Middle East AI News)
Nigeria and the Gates Foundation launch $7.5m AI hub
#Nigeria #investment — Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications and the Gates Foundation have launched a $7.5 million AI Scaling Hub to develop and deploy AI solutions across health, agriculture and education. The three-year initiative will bring together public, private, and academic partners. (TechAfrica News)
Kenya unveils AI and cloud hub strategy
#Kenya #investment — Kenya has launched the AI & Cloud Pioneer Initiative to position itself as a regional tech leader. Announced at the Huawei Cloud Kenya Summit 2025, the programme includes a new national Cloud Policy, Huawei was releasing of Huawei Cloud Stack 8.5 (HCS 8.5) with more AI capabilities and an upgraded DataArts platform. No specifics were given as to the scope or value of the planned investment. (Africa Business Communities)
AI investment in Nigeria to reach $400m in 2025
#Nigeria #investment — Cumulative AI investment in Nigeria is expected to hit $1.2 billion by end-2025, with $400 million flowing in this year alone, according to a PwC, Microsoft, and Lagos Business School report. Key sectors include finance, agriculture, and e-commerce, but challenges persist in infrastructure and skills. (BusinessDay)
Applications
Morocco launches AI customs risk analysis system
#Morocco #applications #customs — Morocco has kicked off a project to use AI in customs risk analysis, supported by the World Customs Organization and Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The system will use predictive analytics and machine learning to streamline trade and improve enforcement. (Yabiladi)
Kenya explores AI to boost election credibility
#Kenya #applications #governance — Kenya’s electoral commission is exploring AI to enhance transparency ahead of the 2027 polls, including voter registry analysis and hate speech detection. Civil society calls for strong regulatory frameworks to prevent misuse. Nigeria has also launched an AI Division for election tech. (The Star)
Policy
Ethiopia, Slovenia to partner on AI and space science
#Ethiopia #Slovenia #bilaterals– Ethiopia and Slovenia have agreed to collaborate on artificial intelligence and space science, following talks between Presidents Taye Atsekeslassie and Slovenia’s President Nataša Pirc Musar. Slovenia will share tech expertise, and both nations pledged to deepen cooperation in urban agriculture, water management and pharmaceuticals. (ENA)
Kenya to tap Slovenia’s AI expertise for digital governance
#Kenya #Slovenia #bilaterals — Kenya will partner with Slovenia to advance AI, e-government, cybersecurity and digital ID systems, President Ruto announced. The move aligns with Kenya’s vision to become Africa’s digital innovation hub, learning from Slovenia’s smart infrastructure and data protection success. (Capital FM)
Ghana’s AI strategy aims for tech sovereignty
#Ghana #policy — At a press briefing in Accra, Minister Samuel Nartey George announced Ghana’s National Digital Transformation and Emerging Technology Strategy, with a strong focus on AI, centred on digitising essential data and updating tech legislation. It is not yet clear how this differs from the National AI Strategy 2023-2033. (Babl.ai)
Education
Egypt opens AI courses to technical school graduates
#Egypt #education — Egypt has allowed graduates from technical schools direct access to university AI and computer science courses through a new quota system. Approved by the Supreme Council of Universities, this move integrates vocational education into the national AI talent pipeline. Our sister publication MiddleEastAINews.com has an analysis here. (Middle East AI News)
Zambia opens second AI centre in Lusaka
#Zambia #education — Zambia will establish a second AI Centre of Excellence at Katoba Secondary School in Lusaka, just weeks after launching a Google-backed centre at the University of Zambia. Funded by Ecobank, the new centre will drive AI-assisted learning and nationwide training for teachers and students. (ITWeb Africa)
SKI Foundtion, Nxtgen Labs equip students with AI skills
#Malawi #education — The Saulos Klaus Ohilima (SKC) Foundation in partnership with an innovation firm, Nxtgen Labs, has equipped 20 students from Mtandle with essential AI, digital creativity and problem solving skills. (Nyasa Times)
Call for Morocco to establish AI university and ministry
#Morocco #education #policy — New York University (NYU) professor Anasse Bari has urged Morocco to create a university and government ministry focused on AI. In an Al Jazeera interview, he argued such institutions are vital for training youth and applying AI to sectors like health, agriculture, and transport. (Morocco World News)
[ This newsletter was human contextified and AI textulated]