Nigeria will host the first-ever IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Africa Summit 2025 (CTU Africa 25) from November 27 to 28 at Baze University, Abuja. Themed “Bridging Digital Frontiers: African Solutions for Universal Connectivity,” the summit marks a historic milestone in the continent’s efforts to close the digital divide.
As a regional segment of the broader IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CTUS-EMEA) Summit, CTU Africa 25 will bring together engineers, policymakers, researchers, regulators, and business leaders to collaborate on scalable, inclusive, and context-sensitive connectivity solutions for underserved regions.
The summit will explore eight thematic tracks that address core connectivity challenges in Africa. These include infrastructure and technologies for universal connectivity, policy, regulation, and sustainable financing, rural and community-centric connectivity innovations, digital transformation in smart cities, education, health, and agriculture, regional cooperation through One Africa Network and cross-border initiatives, sustainable power and energy for connected communities, people, policy, and sustainability, and cybersecurity, data protection, and critical infrastructure. These tracks are designed to foster deep collaboration and innovation across sectors.
CTU Africa 25 holds strategic importance for Nigeria’s telecom sector. With 2.9 billion people globally still unconnected—many of them in Africa—the summit offers Nigerian Internet service providers, telecom operators, ICT entrepreneurs, and policy leaders a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and development.
Participants will gain insights into expanding connectivity in rural and underserved areas, access cutting-edge solutions to reduce infrastructure costs and improve coverage, and engage in policy discussions with regulators and funding partners. The summit also provides a platform for showcasing local innovations to a global audience and participating in regulatory and standards discussions that will shape the next decade of connectivity.
Connectivity is more than internet access—it is a gateway to education, healthcare, economic empowerment, and gender equality. In many African countries, women are 30 to 50 percent less likely than men to access the internet. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the cost of 1GB of data can reach up to 40 percent of the average monthly income.
The lack of internet access hinders e-learning, telemedicine, online markets, and precision farming. By increasing connectivity, Nigeria can unlock GDP growth, foster digital entrepreneurship, and promote social inclusion, especially in rural communities.
IEEE, founded in 1884, is the world’s largest technical professional organization. Its Nigerian chapter has been active since 1976, comprising engineers, technologists, academics, and students. CTU Africa 25 will also host the final presentations of the IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Challenge, where practical and innovative solutions will be showcased.
The event will feature thought leaders from regulatory bodies, NGOs, industry, and academia, all aligned around the shared mission to close the digital gap.
The summit will also open its doors to students from tertiary institutions across Nigeria, offering them exposure to global trends and opportunities in digital innovation.
As Nigeria prepares to host this transformative event, telecom operators, ISPs, policymakers, and technology innovators are encouraged to participate actively in summit sessions, showcase Nigerian connectivity innovations, explore partnerships and investment opportunities, and engage with regulatory and funding bodies on sustainable connectivity models. CTU Africa 25 is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the future of Nigeria’s and Africa’s digital landscape.
