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Information Technology Association welcomes Africa's ICT leaders to third AfICTA Summit, in Johannesburg


Johannesburg, 01 Sep 2015

The architects of Africa's digital future will gather in Johannesburg to map out a future where access to the Internet is a right, not a privilege, for all Africans.

The most influential leaders in ICT in Africa will attend the third AfICTA Summit, to be held at the Protea Hotel Parktonian, in Braamfontein, from 1-3 September 2015.

View the summit agenda (http://aficta.org/summit2015/index.php/agenda)

This year's summit will tackle critical issues like access to the Internet, cyber security and Internet governance, with the theme: "ICT: Lighting the way to development and prosperity across Africa".

ITA President Sunil Geness said: "We welcome all delegates to the third AfICTA Summit and the first to be hosted in South Africa. In the age of the Internet, Africa's digital story has only just begun. How we as leaders respond to the challenge of our digital future will determine our continent's ability to develop and prosper.

"At ITA, we believe that a connected continent built on the foundation of a stable and efficient infrastructure are the catalysts for changing lives even in the poorest regions of Africa," Geness said.

View the full list of speakers (http://aficta.org/summit2015/index.php/speakers)

By bringing together business and government, Africa's ICT leaders are finding ways to improve the lives of their people across the continent. ICT has enabled African citizens to overcome poverty, helped governments reach development goals, and inspired entrepreneurs to compete in a global market.

Moreover, AfICTA hopes the adoption of ICT will effect change in every field, from art, healthcare and business to tourism and education.

The summit's mission is to find innovative ways of moving the continent with appropriate policies, profitable investment and good governance using ICT.

Jimson Olufuye, AfICTA Chairman, has championed the need for Africans to transform lives, create wealth and accelerate development on the continent.

Olufuye is one of the summit's highly anticipated speakers. He is actively involved in global policies for cyber security assurance, broadband as a right, intellectual property rights, Internet freedom and the management of critical Internet resources.

Other speakers include Adrian Schofield, vice-chair of AfICTA; Ulandi Exner, President of the Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa; and Lawrence Kandaswami of SAP Africa.

On the first day, AfICTA members will evaluate their progress over the last three years and set the alliance's strategy for the future, electing the officers who will pursue the agreed goals.

Following the success of the first AfICTA summit in Lagos and the second one in Cairo, the third summit in Johannesburg looks to unite southern Africa with the West and North of Africa, which have pledged their support for the Smart Africa agenda pioneered by Rwanda President Paul Kagame and supported by the President of Egypt, President El-sisi.

The summit aims to create and enhance partnerships that can accelerate ICT-enabled development through increased broadband access, apps that promote wealth creation, and governance that is geared towards improving the lives of Africans.

A gala dinner will be held on 2 September for delegates and the media.

Contact: Monalisa Sam - monalisa@ita.org.za

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Editorial contacts

Monalisa Sam
Information Technology Association of South Africa
monalisa@ita.org.za