AfriLabs is pleased to announce its official admission as an ITU Development (ITU-D) Sector Member. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council, during its 2024 session held from June 4-14, 2024, welcomed AfriLabs into the ITU family.

The ITU is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for issues related to information and communication technologies. The ITU-D Sector is dedicated to fostering international cooperation and promoting equitable access to telecommunication and information technologies.

AfriLabs’ membership to ITU-D represents a major turning point in its mission to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology development across Africa. This partnership will enable AfriLabs to contribute to global conversations and initiatives aimed at driving digital transformation and sustainable development in Africa.

Anna Ekeledo, Executive Director of AfriLabs, expressed her enthusiasm for this new partnership, stating “We are thrilled to join the ITU as an ITU-D Sector Member. This membership not only validates the efforts of AfriLabs in fostering innovation and technology growth in Africa but also provides us with a unique opportunity to collaborate on a global scale. We look forward to leveraging ITU’s vast resources and network to further our mission of empowering African tech hubs and startups, ultimately driving socio-economic development across the continent.”

“I am pleased to welcome AfriLabs as a new ITU-D Sector Member,” said Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau. “The AfriLabs’ vast network of technology and innovation hubs is aligned with ITU-D’s efforts in building capabilities in innovation and entrepreneurship for its members and will support the development of the African technology and innovation ecosystem.”

The inclusion of AfriLabs in the ITU-D Sector underscores the importance of supporting technology and innovation ecosystems in emerging markets. AfriLabs’ extensive network, comprising over 450 innovation centers across 53 African countries, will bring valuable insights and perspectives to ITU’s initiatives and programs.

About AfriLabs

AfriLabs is the largest network of technology and innovation hubs across Africa, driving the growth of Africa’s innovation ecosystem. With a mission to support the development of the African technology and innovation ecosystem, AfriLabs connects hubs and other stakeholders to facilitate collaboration, resource sharing, and knowledge transfer.

About International Telecommunication Union 

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs), driving innovation in ICTs together with 193 Member States and a membership of over 1,000 companies, universities, and international and regional organizations.