By The Respondent Reporter
As delegates from across the continent gather for the 14th African Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF), there’s more than just talk on the agenda.
With the theme “Strengthening Africa’s Digital Future,” the forum is set to tackle
tough questions around cybersecurity, digital inclusion, artificial
intelligence, and cross-border digital cooperation.
And while ministers and tech
leaders share big ideas inside the halls of the Julius Nyerere International
Convention Centre, Airtel Tanzania is making sure the conversations can
flow—literally.
Airtel is stepping in not just as
a telecom provider, but as an enabler of the digital future the forum is trying
to shape.
“This is not just another event
sponsorship,” says Beatrice Singano, Airtel Tanzania’s Director of
Communications and Regulatory Affairs. “It’s a chance to show in real time how
connectivity can bring people together—across borders, sectors, and
communities to find solutions to the digital challenges Africa faces today.”
Airtel’s role at the AfIGF goes beyond providing awareness. It’s about building trust in technology, and helping citizens feel safe, informed, and included in the digital transition.
Singano
points to Airtel’s recent adoption of AI-powered fraud detection as a step
toward this goal—technology being used not just to impress, but to protect.
“This forum puts key issues on
the table cybersecurity, data privacy, emerging technologies—and for us, it’s a
chance to show that private sector players can be proactive partners in
building digital resilience,” he adds.
The
timing couldn’t be more critical. As digital services expand across the
continent, so do the risks—from cybercrime to misinformation. That’s why
initiatives like the government’s SITAPELIKI campaign, aimed at combating
digital fraud, are so important and why Airtel is working to align its own
customer protection efforts with broader national goals.
But beyond the big policy issues,
there’s something deeply local happening too. For many Tanzanians, the AfIGF
offers a rare opportunity to see how digital policy directly impacts their
lives whether it's understanding how mobile money stays secure, how connectivity
reaches rural schools, or how AI might shape their jobs in the future.
“There’s a human side to
everything we do,” says Singano. “When we set up a service desk to help someone
troubleshoot their SIM card during the forum, we’re not just solving a
technical issue—we’re helping someone feel connected to the digital world.”
That mindset—practical,
human-focused, and collaborative—may be exactly what Africa’s digital future
needs.
And in Dar es Salaam this week,
it’s already in motion.
