Equity Group Managing Director and CEO James Mwangi is calling for a stronger convergence between technology and finance as Africa looks to unlock its digital economy and accelerate intra-continental trade.
Speaking at a high-level Tech Breakfast held on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum 2026 in Kigali, Mwangi emphasized that Africa’s next phase of growth will depend on how effectively it integrates financial systems with emerging technologies.
“We need an intersection of technology and money,” Mwangi said.
“We want to enable trade across the continent and create platforms that empower businesses and entrepreneurs to scale.”
The session, themed “From Fintech to Futuretech: Scaling Africa’s Digital Economy,” brought together leaders from government, financial services, and technology sectors to explore how the continent can build the infrastructure needed to support long-term digital transformation.
At the core of the discussion was the need for shared infrastructure—systems that go beyond individual institutions and serve the broader African market.
Mwangi highlighted the importance of long-term investment in digital systems that can expand financial inclusion while supporting enterprise growth. He noted that Africa’s transformation will require collaboration across sectors, with institutions stepping up to build platforms that enable seamless cross-border trade.
“The Africa CEO Forum has been about scaling, and this is an invitation for all of us to scale together, partnering to build public infrastructure that serves the entire continent,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Paula Ingabire, Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, stressed that African countries must take ownership of their digital future by building systems that create value locally.
She pointed to critical infrastructure layers such as digital identity, cross-border banking systems, and data governance frameworks as key to unlocking growth.
“We need to start setting the pace on how technology empowers us and builds value for our people,” Ingabire said.
“The rails are ours to build and the rules are ours to create.”
The discussions also explored the role of emerging technologies, including blockchain, digital assets and decentralized infrastructure, in improving transparency, efficiency, and access to financial services.
These technologies are increasingly being seen as critical tools for addressing long-standing challenges in cross-border payments, identity verification and trust within fragmented markets.
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