WAICTANet Shines at DRIF 2025: Championing Human-Centric Digital Transformation in Africa
The 2025 Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF), the spotlight turned to a powerful dialogue on how EU–Africa digital cooperation can be grounded in human-centric principles, with a strong African voice shaping the future. The D4D Hub, in collaboration with #Enabel and the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), hosted a high-level session that brought together leading figures from civil society and the private sector. Representing West Africa ICT Action Network (WAICTANet) at this landmark event was none other than Peterking Quaye, the organization’s Executive Director.
Speaking during the session, Peterking Quaye emphasized: “Digital transformation must reflect our people’s realities, languages, and values. From Luzaka to Lagos, we must make digital rights, inclusivity, and access the bedrock of every digital infrastructure plan.”
The session tackled digital rights, gender equality, cybersecurity, and environmental sustainability, with a recurring theme: Ubuntu – the African philosophy of shared humanity – as a guiding framework for building inclusive, resilient digital futures. Peterking Quaye added a thought-provoking note: “Africa doesn’t need imported models. We need digital ecosystems that are people-powered, AI-informed, and rooted in local innovation. That’s the only sustainable path forward.”
This participation reaffirms WAICTANet’s commitment to advancing a rights-based digital landscape in the MRU region, ensuring youth, women, and marginalized voices are not only included, but empowered in shaping digital futures. Final takeaway? The call is clear: Invest in human-centric, AI-driven, localized digital infrastructure for public goods.
