CIO100 Symposium Enters Day Two With Sector Case Studies And High-Level Panels

Day Two of the 17th CIO100 Symposium & Awards 2025 opened with a powerful charge to Africa’s technology leaders: build, transform, and lead the continent into its next technological era.

The morning session began with an opening address from Harry Hare, Chairman, dx5, who welcomed delegates, especially first-time attendees, into what he described as a community shaping Africa’s technological destiny.

“This is where power, promise, and potential converge for Africa’s future,” he said. “You are the leaders of the new Africa the world needs. You are the people building the rails, the systems, and the teams that will ensure Africa does not miss the next great technological leap.”

Hare reflected on the evolution of the CIO100 Awards, noting how the platform has become one of Africa’s most influential networks for CIOs and digital leaders.

“It has become a business forum, a networking forum, and a learning forum, within a safe and supportive community. We are truly proud of what the CIO100 Awards have become.”

The opening address was followed by a keynote session delivered by Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General and CEO of Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). Abdullahi urged African nations to intensify collaboration, adopt shared digital standards, and build cross-border tech ecosystems capable of supporting continental growth.

Boardroom Expectations of IT: A New Era

The morning continued with two high-level panel discussions, beginning with Boardroom Expectations of IT, where panellists explored the heightened visibility and strategic influence of technology leadership.

Speakers noted that the role of IT has fundamentally shifted. A decade ago, CIOs were seen as support personnel, called in to fix laptops or troubleshoot Excel. Today, boards recognise digital transformation as a core part of business strategy.

Frank Molla, Managing Director, Africa, MDP Egypt, said the demographic shift in boardrooms has contributed significantly to this transformation.

“We are seeing younger, more diverse expertise incorporated into boards because adaptability has become essential. CIOs and CTOs must adapt, and increasingly, boards must adapt with them.”

He added that modern boards have moved “from the basement to the cockpit,” actively shaping direction, capability, and innovation agendas.

Deji Lana, Co-Founder and CTO of SeamlessHR, highlighted rising expectations: “Boards today want innovation. They want AI. They assign AI projects and say, ‘This is the cost, deliver within it. Do not increase the budget, find a way around it.’ They want speed and they expect results.”

AI Disruption: Is Africa Ready?

The second panel of the morning focused on whether Africa is ready for AI, and the consensus was clear: readiness is not a static destination but a continuous journey.

Panellists argued that while Africa may not match the infrastructural scale of global tech powerhouses, the continent has the critical ingredients, including talent, creativity, and a rapidly growing digital ecosystem.

On data centre capacity, a crucial foundation for AI, panellists noted that Africa accounts for roughly 1 percent of global capacity, with most of it concentrated in South Africa. Still, they stressed that Africa must quickly scale to avoid falling behind.

Dan Kwach, Managing Director, East Africa, Africa Data Centres (ADC), called for bolder ambition: “We must build enough GPU and data centre capacity not just to serve Africa, but to join the global supply chain, supporting the world in the same way the world is supporting us.”

The key message was that Africa’s readiness will be defined not by what it lacks today, but by how quickly it can scale what already exists.

Masterclasses, Case Studies, and Sector Insights

The programme then expanded across three stages with:
• Expert keynote sessions
• Sector-focused panel discussions
• Hands-on masterclasses
• Case study presentations drawn from submissions to the CIO100 Awards

Case studies from the banking, insurance, and healthcare sectors took centre stage, showcasing innovation in core banking transformation, digital claims automation, cybersecurity resiliency, health informatics, and AI-driven patient care.

These sessions provided a rare look into projects that are reshaping customer experiences, reducing operational costs, and enabling data-driven decision-making across industries.

The CIO100 Symposium and Awards brings together CIOs, CTOs, CDOs, cybersecurity leaders, engineers, policymakers, and global technology partners for three days of learning, networking, and strategy-building.

Day Three

Day Three will feature more masterclasses, networking sessions, and high-level discussions before culminating in the prestigious CIO100 Awards Gala.

The highlight of the evening will be the unveiling of the 2025 CIO of the Year, who will succeed current titleholder Geoffrey “GG” Gitagia, CIO, Avenue Healthcare.