President Paul Kagame’s call for a people-centered approach to Africa’s digital transformation, delivered at the Mobile World Congress in Kigali, could not be more timely. As the continent embraces rapid technological change, the challenge is to ensure that no one is left behind in the digital revolution.

Digital technology has already transformed Africa; from mobile banking that enables financial inclusion to e-learning platforms that keep children in classrooms despite barriers. Yet, as President Kagame warned, without deliberate efforts, innovation risks deepening inequality rather than reducing it.

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The most vulnerable groups, such as rural communities, low-income earners, women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly, often remain excluded from the benefits of digital progress. Many cannot afford smartphones or internet data, while others face barriers such as lack of digital literacy or language accessibility. In some remote areas, even electricity and network coverage remain unreliable.

To make digital innovation truly inclusive, Africa must invest in affordable connectivity, community digital centers, and education programs that teach basic tech skills. Governments and private companies should collaborate to design solutions tailored to local needs, such as mobile apps in local languages for farmers to access weather updates, market prices, or telemedicine services for patients far from hospitals.

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Furthermore, policies must protect users’ data and privacy while encouraging innovation that uplifts livelihoods. The goal should not merely be more technology, but better use of technology to empower citizens.

President Kagame’s message is a reminder that Africa’s digital transformation must have a human face. The success of our digital future will be measured not only by faster internet speeds, but by how well technology narrows, rather than widens, the gap between the connected and the unconnected.