Africa Aware: Africa’s digital future

Ambassador Philip Thigo and Hon. Neema Lugangira discuss how digitalization in Africa can be harnessed to drive inclusive growth, strengthen institutions, and ensure that innovation translates into sustainable development outcomes.

Audio

Published 6 March 2026 — 22 minute listen

Hon. Neema Lugangira

Founding Chair, African Parliamentary Network on Internet Governance

Ambassador Philip Thigo

Special Envoy on Technology, Office of the President of Kenya

Africa’s digital landscape is one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving in the world. African states are not merely adopters of digital norms; they are shaping regulatory approaches in data protection and cybersecurity in addition to innovating mobile money ecosystems and digital health solutions among others. 

While innovation hubs are dotted across the continent, growth amongst African states and local communities remain uneven due to infrastructure gaps, broadband affordability, energy reliability and regulatory fragmentation. 

In this episode, Ambassador Philip Thigo and Hon. Neema Lugangira join the Africa Programme’s Professor Nnenna Ifeanyi-Ajufo and Lisa Musumba to discuss how digitalization can be harnessed to drive inclusive growth, strengthen institutions, and ensure that innovation translates into sustainable development outcomes. 

About Africa Aware 

Africa Aware is a podcast from the Chatham House Africa Programme bringing together leading international experts to provide in-depth analysis and sharp insights on the political, economic and social issues shaping African countries, their international relations and the continent as a whole. 

You can also listen to Africa Aware on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.