Ascend Digital Solutions Limited proudly participated in the Transform Africa Summit 2025, held from 12–14 November 2025 at the Radisson Blu in Conakry, Republic of Guinea. This year’s summit, themed “AI for Africa: Innovate Locally, Impact Globally,” brought together governments, industry leaders, and technology innovators committed to accelerating the continent’s digital transformation.

Represented by our CEO, Harkirit Singh, and Head of Sales & Commercial, Alfred Nkrow, Ascend played an active role in shaping conversations around interoperability, digital public infrastructure, and secure data exchange, key enablers for Africa’s integrated digital future.

A Landmark Milestone: Signing of the Data Exchange MOU with Smart Africa

One of the highlights of Ascend’s participation was the transformational MOU signing between Ascend Digital Solutions and Smart Africa.
This agreement marks the beginning of a historic initiative: the development of Africa’s first cross-border data exchange platform.

Through this partnership, Ascend and Smart Africa aim to:

  • Build a trusted, secure, and interoperable data exchange system

  • Enable seamless cross-country data flow across the continent

  • Support governments in unlocking digital services, identity interoperability, and AI-enabled innovation

  • Strengthen Africa’s capacity to harness data for governance, inclusion, and economic opportunity

This platform will lay the foundation for true borderless digital exchange, creating new possibilities for regional integration and cooperation.

Thought Leadership at the Summit: CEO Panel Participation

Our CEO, Harkirit Singh, joined an influential panel discussion titled:
“Building Interoperable DPI with Digital Identity and Secure Data Exchange.”

During the session, he highlighted the critical role of interoperability in enabling continental-scale digital transformation, stressing that:

  • Africa’s digital future depends on shared standards, secure identity frameworks, and trusted data ecosystems

  • Cross-border interoperability is essential for enabling services such as digital trade, cross-country healthcare access, education credentialing, and financial inclusion

  • Public–private collaboration remains key to building sustainable digital infrastructure that meets local needs while remaining globally relevant

His contributions reinforced Ascend’s commitment to driving practical, scalable solutions that support Africa’s digital ambition.

Strengthening Partnerships for Africa’s Digital Future

Beyond the official engagements, the summit provided an opportunity for the Ascend team to connect with ministers, regulators, technology leaders, and ecosystem partners from across the continent.
These interactions further solidified Ascend’s role as a key enabler of digital transformation, particularly in areas such as connectivity, identity systems, AI-driven platforms, and national digital infrastructure.

Looking Ahead

Ascend Digital Solutions remains committed to enabling Africa’s digital economy through innovative technologies and strong partnerships. Our participation at Transform Africa Summit 2025 reaffirms our mission to build solutions that enhance interoperability, drive inclusion, and support digital progress across the continent.

We look forward to continuing this journey with Smart Africa and other partners as we build the infrastructure that powers Africa’s digital future.