Dr Luqman Afolabi (2nd left), and other academics, at the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Education in Kigali
Artificial intelligence (AI) will play a decisive role in the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and reshape cross-border commerce, a senior lecturer has said.
Dr Luqman Afolabi of the University of Kigali, Rwanda, made the remarks at the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Education in Kigali. He argued that Africa’s economic transformation increasingly depends on “digital soft infrastructure” — data systems, payment platforms, and skills — rather than physical infrastructure.
Afolabi highlighted AI’s impact on logistics, energy, and finance. He cited platforms such as Kobo360, which reduce transport costs and optimise cross-border food distribution, and AI-driven predictive maintenance that improves grid stability in regional power pools. He also highlighted Afreximbank’s Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which uses AI to enable instant cross-border payments and reduce currency conversion losses.
The lecturer emphasised the importance of education in building a digital-economy workforce, urging the integration of AI literacy into schools and colleges. He proposed phased implementation plans, including harmonising digital trade rules and investing in digital and green computing infrastructure.
Prof Ogechi Adeola, University of Kigali’s deputy vice-chancellor, said AI innovations, combined with investment in education and trade platforms, could accelerate AfCFTA integration, strengthen intra-African trade, and create a digitally enabled single market.
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