Digital and tech experts from Africa will converge in Nairobi for an annual conference to review the performance of the industry and discuss emerging trends.
The two-day conference will start on December 5, 2023, and has been billed as the eighth edition of Digital and Technology Week (DTW).
The conference will bring together corporate organisations, government entities, media, and technology companies, both local and international.
The meeting will culminate in the Digital Media Awards ceremony.
Rita Njuguna, co-founder and director of Go Gaga Experiential which is putting together the event, said the conference will equip participants with expanded knowledge and insights into the impacts of digitisation and technology on economies and livelihoods.
Topics lined up for the discourse include evolution of marketing in the digital world, the digital platform economy, cyber security and new innovations among others.
“The adoption of digital technologies in Kenya is contributing significantly to greater access to information, education, healthcare, and various other services, all of which are enhancing lives and livelihoods,” Njuguna said.
Speakers will include the chairperson of the Association of Fintech Ali Hussein, Managing Director at Bayobab formerly MTNConnect Sylvia Anampiu, Senior Vice President at Flutterwave Leon Kiptum among others.
The conference's partners include EABL, Samsung Electronics East Africa, Redington – Cisco, iHRM, Kenya Institute of Bankers, Association of Fintech.
Data from organisers shows Digital and Technology Week has had an active participation of over 800 companies, 1,000 thought leaders and attracted more than 1,500 attendees since its inception.
The conference comes amid growing demand for digital skills, as underscored by a recent report by the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE).
The report indicates Information Communication Technology (ICT) as the most sought-after skill, accounting for 28.4 per cent of the major skills demanded by Kenyan employers.
According to Accenture's Africa GDP Forecast, Kenya leads in digital transformation, with its digital economy contributing 7.7 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), followed by Morocco and South Africa at 6.82 per cent and 6.51 per cent, respectively.
The report further predicts that by 2025, Kenya's digital economy will contribute Sh1.4 trillion, equivalent to 9.24 per cent of the GDP.
