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By Ousmane Bocoum, Programme Management Officer

The vibrant streets of Conakry recently served as the beating heart of Africa鈥檚 digital revolution. Last year, the Transform Africa Summit (TAS) turned the spotlight on Guinea, bringing together a powerhouse of innovators, policymakers, and change-makers.

The Scale Was Impressive, but the Signal Was Bigger

Under the theme "AI for Africa: Innovate Locally, Impact Globally," the 2025 edition of TAS was historic. For the first time, the summit was hosted in Francophone West Africa, reflecting the continent's inclusive growth and what struck me first was the mix of people and perspectives. Over 7000 participants, including 47 African Ministers and over 1,500 government delegates, 600 African start-ups, everyone was here to discuss one question: how do we accelerate digital transformation in a way that creates jobs, expands opportunity, and improves lives?

Guinea鈥檚 own ambition was palpable. Hosting a summit of this scale is never just an event-management exercise. The leadership demonstrated by Guinean authorities, in the way they convened stakeholders, elevated the importance of digital transformation, and positioned their country as an active contributor to Africa鈥檚 digital agenda, stood out to many participants.

It sent a quiet but powerful message: digital transformation is not reserved for a few 鈥渦sual suspects鈥� on the continent. More broadly, it reflected a shift I鈥檓 seeing across Africa: digital is no longer treated as a standalone sector and is increasingly understood as an enabler across the economy and public services.

Africa Opportunity and LDC Imperative

鈥淎frica has potential鈥� is a phrase we all hear. In Conakry, that potential felt tangible because it was organized: startups pitching solutions rooted in real needs, governments thinking about systems and standards, and partners exploring how to unlock investment and scale.

What I found especially encouraging was the attention given, directly and indirectly, to countries that are too often peripheral in global digital conversations: the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Coming from the UN Technology Bank, my lens is always shaped by one priority: how do we help LDCs strengthen their science, technology and innovation (STI) ecosystems so they can drive their own transformation?

TAS brought together the people who can make that happen and it reinforced something I鈥檝e learned repeatedly in development work: many countries don鈥檛 lack ideas. What they often lack is the pathway from ambition to implementation, and partnerships that stay engaged long enough to deliver results.

That is where the UN Technology Bank remains committed. We understand that digital transformation can be a powerful equalizer, but only if the fundamentals are in place. If those fundamentals lag, the digital dividend risks concentrating in a few places and widening gaps. For African LDCs, the stakes are particularly high as the costs of missing out compound quickly and becomes much harder (and more expensive) to close later. This is a delay they simply cannot afford.