President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, will once again headline the opening ceremony of MWC25 Kigali, marking his third consecutive appearance at the event.
According to the GSM Association (GSMA), in a press release on Tuesday, President Kagame will formally open MWC25 Kigali on October 21, 2025, at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda.
“We are delighted and honoured to welcome His Excellency Paul Kagame to MWC Kigali once again, where we will gather with innovators, policymakers, and business leaders to address the critical issues driving Africa’s digital ambitions. I look forward to engaging with leaders from various sectors to shape the next chapter of Africa’s digital transformation, from smartphone affordability and AI adoption to connectivity and fintech solutions,” said Vivek Badrinath, Director General, GSMA.
Heritage Times HT reports that MWC25 Kigali will convene government, enterprise, and start-up leaders from across the technology ecosystem to discuss how innovation can accelerate Africa’s digital transformation. The event features impactful summits and forums aligned with MWC Kigali’s four core themes – Connected Continent, The AI Future, Fintech, and Africa’s Digital Frontier.
In response to growing demand for sector-specific insight, the programme will include a range of summits, such as a dedicated two-day Fintech Summit, 5G, and the debut Security Summit.
This year’s edition will also introduce several new initiatives and partnerships. The GSMA Ministerial Programme, an invitation-only platform, will join the MWC Kigali agenda for the first time, focusing on key policy and regulatory topics such as AI, that are accelerating the digitalisation of African economies.
Another new highlight is the Orange Social Ventures Prize, which will feature an award ceremony celebrating social innovators in Africa and the Middle East. The Future of Education & Work in Africa (FEWA) will also co-locate for the first time at MWC Kigali, bringing together AI pioneers, policymakers, and innovators to design scalable solutions for education and workforce transformation.
MWC Kigali’s industry-leading agenda is supported by leading global and regional companies, including founding and headline sponsors Huawei, MTN, and ZTE; industry sponsor Orange; and event partners the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT) and Smart Africa.
For more information and media registration, visit the MWC Kigali Press Zone or http://www.mwckigali.com.
