Africa’s AI moment: Reflections from GAIME 2025 in Kampala

At the 2025 Global AI Innovation Movement and Evolution (GAIME) Conference in Kampala, the air was charged with possibility. Leaders and innovators from around the world gathered to ask a defining question: how can Africa shape its own future in the age of artificial intelligence?

Among the voices framing that discussion was Jeph Acheampong, founder of Blossom Academy, who moderated two high-impact sessions — “AI Strategy for Emerging Markets” and “Career Paths in AI” — and joined a panel on “Building AI Teams from Scratch.”

Acheampong’s contributions underscored his growing influence at the intersection of data, education, and workforce development across Africa. During his lightning talk, he outlined three pivotal shifts that could help the continent build resilience and seize opportunity in the AI era.

Rethinking Education for the Age of Intelligence
He began with education — a subject close to his work at Blossom Academy. The challenge, he argued, is not just teaching technology but teaching thinking.

“AI is great at automating repetitive tasks,” he said. “We can no longer afford to have students memorizing concepts just to pass exams. Our institutions must nurture problem solvers who can think critically — and even challenge the insights generated by AI hallucinations.”

In his view, Africa’s future innovators must be creators, not mere consumers of technology. Classrooms should produce critical thinkers able to question, adapt, and improve the tools of AI, not be overshadowed by them.

Collaboration Over Competition
Acheampong’s second call was for greater collaboration across Africa’s innovation ecosystem. He noted that while the continent abounds with passionate builders, many still operate in silos.

“Ecosystem builders — from civil society to the private sector to government — often operate independently. There’s a pride in ownership that can sometimes hinder progress,” he observed.

Instead of duplicating efforts or competing for the same limited resources, he proposed a model of regional cooperation: joint investments in shared infrastructure such as data centres and renewable energy grids. These, he suggested, could tackle collective challenges like high data costs and unreliable electricity.

“If we pooled our resources regionally,” he said, “imagine the scale and quality of AI solutions we could build for the continent.”

Data Literacy for Decision-Makers
Acheampong’s final point touched on leadership — specifically, the importance of digital literacy among decision-makers.

At Blossom Academy, he noted, roughly one-third of employer partners who take on data interns end up hiring a data professional for the first time. Once they see the impact of analytics on business performance, they come back for more.

“If we democratize data literacy for public-sector leaders,” he said, “we’ll reduce dependence on foreign contractors and encourage the development of localized AI solutions.”

A Vision of Africa “Getting AI Right”
During a later panel on “Building AI Teams from Scratch,” Acheampong was asked to imagine what Africa might look like if it got AI right. His vision was one of transformation and inclusion:

A continent where millions of Africans work remotely to fill part of the projected global shortage of 85 million skilled workers by 2030; where governments base decisions on reliable, real-time data; and where blue-collar professions — from plumbers to electricians — are augmented, not displaced, by technology.

He called for training providers to think beyond traditional tech roles and expand into sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and energy, reducing Africa’s reliance on foreign expertise and unlocking untapped potential in its workforce.

A Question of Readiness
The GAIME Conference itself was imbued with urgency — but also optimism. Uganda’s Minister of ICT and National Guidance,  Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, offered a memorable metaphor:

“The map of Africa is shaped like a question mark — which means it’s posing a question for all of us.”

For Jeph Acheampong, that question is one of readiness. Will Africa rise to the occasion and define its own AI future — or will others define it for us?

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