Africa is emerging as a dynamic hub for artificial intelligence (AI), driven by visionary leaders addressing critical challenges like limited computing access and resource scarcity. These trailblazers—Strive Masiyiwa, Mfikeyi Makayi, Paula Ingabire, and Bosun Tijani—are leveraging AI to transform industries, economies, and communities across the continent.
1 Strive Masiyiwa, founder of Cassava Technologies, is tackling the stark reality that only 5% of Africa’s AI talent has access to high-performance computing, as noted by the UN Development Program. Through a partnership with Nvidia, Masiyiwa’s company is building Africa’s first AI factory in South Africa, offering 3,000 GPUs for rent to researchers and entrepreneurs.
Launched in March 2025, the initiative has already seen overwhelming demand, with plans to expand to Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco by 2029, backed by a potential $720 million investment. Masiyiwa’s vision is clear: democratize compute power to empower African innovators to create world-class AI solutions.
Mfikeyi Makayi, CEO of KoBold Metals Africa, is revolutionizing mineral exploration to support the global clean energy transition. Using AI to analyze geological data, KoBold pinpointed a $2 billion copper mine in Zambia’s Chililabombwe district, set for production by the early 2030s.
Makayi’s leadership extends to projects in the DRC, Namibia, and Botswana, targeting critical minerals like lithium and cobalt. With a $537 million Series C round in 2025, backed by investors like Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, KoBold’s AI-driven approach enhances drilling precision, reducing costs and environmental impact while challenging China’s dominance in EV battery supply chains.
Paula Ingabire, Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, is harnessing AI to transform her nation’s economy, projected to add 6% to GDP. Focusing on agriculture, which employs nearly half of Rwanda’s workforce, Ingabire’s initiatives include AI-powered weather warning systems and soil health analytics.
Her ministry’s $7.5 million partnership with the Gates Foundation, announced in April 2025, is funding the Rwanda AI Scaling Hub to advance AI applications in health, education, and agriculture. Ingabire’s vision also includes developing Kinyarwanda-specific AI models, ensuring technology serves local needs and setting a model for hubs in Senegal, Kenya, and Nigeria.
Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, brings entrepreneurial zeal to government. His 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program has trained nearly 300,000 Nigerians since 2023, equipping them with AI and tech skills through digital platforms and 220 learning centers.
Tijani’s National AI Strategy, launched in April 2025, involves 150 experts to foster responsible AI growth. Initiatives like a national AI trust, a Gates Foundation-backed AI scaling hub, and a World Bank-funded 90,000km fiber-optic expansion aim to integrate AI into healthcare, agriculture, and governance, positioning Nigeria as a global AI player.
These leaders are not just adopting AI but reshaping Africa’s future, driving innovation, and addressing global challenges with local solutions.
SOURCE: TIME USA
