Rwanda President Paul Kagame said Africa’s rapidly growing young population could become one of the continent’s greatest advantages in the artificial intelligence era, urging greater investment in skills and innovation to prepare millions of young people for the digital economy.
Speaking on Wednesday at the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Kagame said Africa has an opportunity to play a leading role in developing and applying artificial intelligence solutions, but only if countries create the right conditions for young innovators to succeed.
By 2050, Africa is expected to have the world’s largest working-age population, a demographic shift Kagame said could help drive economic transformation if matched with investment in education, connectivity and technology.
“We must invest in our young people. It will be a benefit to everyone,” Kagame told participants at the summit.
He said young Africans are already demonstrating creativity by using emerging technologies to address challenges in areas such as healthcare, education and business, but many still lack access to the resources needed to scale their ideas.
“Talent exists everywhere but the opportunity to use it does not,” Kagame said.
The President said governments, universities and the private sector must work together to expand access to digital skills, computing resources and reliable infrastructure so that more people can participate in the technology economy.
Turning AI Users into AI Creators
Kagame said Africa’s role in the next phase of technological development should go beyond adopting tools created elsewhere.
“In Africa, we are no longer satisfied to be passive consumers of technology,” he said. “We want to build and deploy that technology at scale as well.”
He said responsible use of artificial intelligence will require countries to strengthen governance systems that promote accountability, trust and equal access.
Kagame also pointed to Rwanda’s experience using AI in healthcare through its Health Intelligence Center, where data analysis supports disease monitoring and helps improve decision-making.
Global Effort to Expand AI Access
The remarks were delivered as global leaders, technology executives and researchers met in Geneva for discussions on how artificial intelligence can support human development.
The AI for Good Global Summit, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in partnership with Switzerland, is focused on expanding the benefits of AI while addressing challenges related to access, safety and governance.
During the summit, Kagame joined Salesforce Chief Executive Marc Benioff and ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin in launching the International Commission on AI Development and Use.
The commission, which brings together more than 40 leaders from governments, businesses and international organizations, aims to develop approaches for increasing public trust in AI, expanding access to its benefits and reducing inequalities.
Kagame said international cooperation will be essential to ensuring that artificial intelligence becomes a tool for shared progress.
“Technology should be a force for good, and we have a responsibility to use it only for positive purposes,” he said.
