The ID4Africa 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) has commenced, marking a pivotal moment in Africa’s collective journey toward secure, inclusive, and interoperable digital identity systems. With more than 2,000 delegates from over 100 countries in attendance, the three-day event serves as the continent’s leading platform for dialogue, innovation, and policy action on digital ID.
Held under the theme ‘Digital Identity at Scale: Prioritizing Use, Accelerating Impact,’ this year’s AGM focuses on unlocking the potential of digital ID to drive economic inclusion, strengthen governance, and enhance service delivery. The forum brings together high-level government delegations, private sector leaders, civil society actors, and development partners to share best practices, challenges, and scalable models.
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In his keynote address, Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed underscored the critical role digital identity plays in modern governance across Africa:
“Digital ID has evolved from a promising innovation into a foundational pillar of digital transformation. It is no longer an optional layer; it is an essential infrastructure that connects people to services, communities to institutions, and governments to the aspirations of their citizens.”
The conference also highlighted Africa’s emerging leadership in digital public infrastructure. One of the spotlighted models is Ethiopia’s Fayda system, which has now onboarded 15 million users. Fayda, meaning “value” in Amharic, exemplifies how homegrown solutions can be scaled to meet national development goals while respecting privacy and inclusion.
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Yodahe Zemichael, Director General of Ethiopia’s National ID Program, noted that Fayda’s success stems from political commitment, local innovation, and strong institutional partnerships, a formula that could inspire similar efforts across the continent.
As the digital identity landscape continues to evolve, Telecom Review Africa reaffirms its role as a trusted continental media partner documenting Africa’s transformation journey, directly from the frontlines.
