Governments across Africa could save up to $150 billion (about ₦226 trillion) annually by adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) in public service delivery, according to Mr. Harun Katusya, a senior consulting expert and lead organiser of the upcoming Africa Premier AI Conference (APAIC2025).
Mr. Katusya, speaking ahead of the landmark event, said AI has the power to transform how African countries serve their 1.4 billion citizens, most of whom still rely on outdated systems. “Citizens are often forced to wait days for basic services, while over 40% cannot access them at all. AI offers a historic opportunity to reverse this trend,” he said.
The AI conference, tagged APAIC2025, is scheduled to hold between August 25 and 28, 2025, at the Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort in Mombasa, Kenya. The theme of the event is “Africa First: Harnessing AI for Public Good, Wealth Creation, and Youth Empowerment.” The conference will bring together policymakers, technology experts, business leaders, and development partners from across the continent.
Mr. Katusya highlighted that governments already adopting AI are recording huge benefits, particularly in improving efficiency and citizen satisfaction. For instance, AI-powered chatbots are able to handle up to 80% of citizen queries instantly. Predictive analytics have reduced waiting times by over 60%, while automation is cutting down bureaucratic delays by as much as 70%.
Rwanda was mentioned as a leading example, with over 4 million citizens accessing more than 100 government services from home using AI-enabled platforms. This, he said, has reduced service delivery times by more than 90%. Similarly, in Kenya, more than 300 services are now hosted on the government’s e-Citizen platform. A multilingual AI chatbot introduced there has reduced walk-in traffic by 60%.
“Proactive governments like Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and South Africa are not just digitising services — they’re rethinking governance itself,” Mr. Katusya said.
Beyond digital access, AI is also helping governments make smarter decisions. Real-time sentiment analysis helps leaders adjust policies quickly, while AI tools are now being used for inclusive governance through multilingual citizen engagement and data-driven feedback. AI is also playing a role in financial planning, as budget optimisation and policy simulation tools are helping governments plan better and spend more efficiently.
“AI enables evidence-based governance. It offers the ability to create more inclusive policies and ensures better fiscal discipline,” Mr. Katusya explained.
One major focus of the upcoming APAIC2025 conference is youth empowerment. Mr. Katusya stressed that the continent’s youth should be trained to not only use AI but to build AI-based solutions tailored to Africa’s needs — in areas like healthcare, education, agriculture, and the creative industries.
“Our youth must be equipped not just to consume AI but to create with it. APAIC2025 will be a launchpad for Africa’s next generation of AI innovators,” he said.
Mr. Katusya also pointed out the role of AI in transforming agriculture, Africa’s largest employer. Technologies like satellite-based crop monitoring and SMS-based soil diagnostics are now helping smallholder farmers make better decisions. AI is also being used to deliver accurate weather forecasts, enable access to credit, and ensure fair pricing — all of which help to increase productivity and boost rural incomes.
“Africa holds 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, but many farmers remain locked out of productivity. AI is now bridging that gap,” he said.
The organisers of APAIC2025 hope the conference will become a turning point in how African nations integrate AI in governance, job creation, service delivery, and inclusive economic development.
