Africa’s digital economy in focus as institute hosts confabs on AI, data governance

Bolstering Africa’s digital economy was the focus of discussions when the Institute of Information Management (IIM) Global Network held its 2026 African conferences, induction and investiture ceremonies in South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana.

The conference’s advanced discussions on Artificial Intelligence (AI), data governance, digital trust and information management.

The conferences also focused on three interconnected themes that reflect Africa’s growing digital ambition and the critical need for governance frameworks capable of supporting sustainable innovation, held respectively in Midrand, South Africa on Saturday, May 9, 2026; Lagos, Nigeria on Saturday, May 16, 2026 and Accra, Ghana on Saturday, May 23, 2026.

Policymakers, regulators, academics, technology leaders, information management professionals, data governance practitioners, cybersecurity experts, researchers and digital transformation stakeholders were invited for robust deliberations to facilitate achievement of the main objective of the strategic conferences.

The conferences underline the institute’s commitment to professional excellence, capacity-building, international collaboration and advancement of trusted digital ecosystems across the African continent.

“Africa’s digital future will be determined not merely by technology adoption, but also by our ability to govern information, data and artificial intelligence responsibly,” Oyedokun Oyewole, an Ambassador and FIIM, International President/Chairman of the Institute, noted.

According to him, “without trusted data, there can be no trusted AI. The future of our continent requires strong governance frameworks, ethical leadership, professional collaboration, and sustained investment in digital capacity.”

Oyewole added that information management professionals must evolve beyond traditional record administration roles to become architects of digital trust, responsible AI governance, institutional resilience and sustainable development.

Specifically, the South Africa edition had as its theme, ‘Bridging the Digital Divide: Leveraging AI and Data Governance for National Development and Public Sector Efficiency.’ The event which featured a keynote presentation by Jayshree Mallaya, Founder and CEO of Third Vision AI.

Mallaya spoke on the topic, ‘Who Authorised AI to Act? Rethinking Governance in Real World Systems.’ The session also addressed the growing role of AI and data governance in public sector modernisation and national development.

The South Africa conference also highlighted strategic industry engagement through sponsored presentations delivered by Kodak Southern & Anglo-West Africa, CoCre8 Technology Solutions and supporting technology partners committed to advancing digital transformation initiatives across the region.

The Nigeria edition with the theme, ‘Empowering Data Governance and Responsible AI for Africa’s Digital Future,’ featured a keynote presentation by Franklin Okoro, Associate at Jackson, Etti & Edu, who spoke on the topic, ‘The Internet Never Forgets: Rethinking Privacy in Africa’s Hyperconnected Society.’

Participants explored the growing implications of privacy, digital identity, regulatory compliance and personal data protection within increasingly connected digital ecosystems. There was also a featured presentation by Maxwell Nzekwe, CEO of Cimfoni Technology Limited, that examined workforce productivity and professional accountability through a presentation titled, ‘The Lost Sheep as a Workplace Productivity and SLA Metaphor: A Timeless Parable for Modern Productivity.’

The Ghana conference with the theme, ‘Building Trust in the Digital Economy: Data Protection, AI Readiness, and Information Governance in Ghana,’ had Jacob Fenuku, Head of Application Security at CalBank Plc, as the Keynote Speaker. Fenuku examined the relationship between trust, cybersecurity, privacy and AI readiness in Ghana’s evolving digital economy.

Participants also benefited from a featured presentation by Samuel Chionye, Country Operations Manager of Unateus Ghana Limited, titled, ‘Role of Data and AI in Industry: Then and Now.’

A major highlight of the event was the swearing-in ceremony of Rockson Afetsrom as Acting Vice President of the IIM Ghana Chapter, marking another important milestone in the institute’s continued expansion and institutional development across Africa.

The conference also featured goodwill messages from distinguished professionals, including Genevieve Duncan of the KNUST-Africa Institute of Sanitation & Waste Management.