Africa’s data centre boom is shifting from capacity to control, security, and sovereignty. As demand accelerates, data centres are becoming the foundation of a new “house of sovereignty”. secure, locally anchored digital infrastructure. Join this session to explore what this means for those building and investing in Africa’s digital future.
Webinar Details:
Date: 27 May 2026
Time: 1pm WAT | 2pm SAST | 3pm EAT
What to expect: Poll | Live discussion | Live Q & A
MODERATOR:
- Faith Waithaka, Chairperson, Africa Data Centres Association (ADCA); C&SP Segment Lead, Schneider Electric
SPEAKERS:
- Ziaad Suleman, SVP: CEO SA & Botswana, Cassava Technologies
- Adil El Youssefi, SVP: Global Head Co-location, Africa Data Centres
- Dr Happy Sithole, Center Manager, National Integrated Cyberinfrastructure System (NICIS), CSIR
- Zitto Alfayo, Director, Project Preparation Finance, Afreximbank
What we’ll explore:
- From infrastructure to sovereignty – What “data sovereignty” means in practice for data centre design, location, and ownership
- Cyber security as a core design driver – How risk, resilience, and compliance are shaping next-generation facilities
- Building local digital ecosystems – The role of African operators, partnerships, and localisation strategies
- Balancing global and local – How hyperscalers and local players are co-existing within sovereign frameworks
Key Discussion Questions
- What does data sovereignty actually require at a data centre level?
- How is cyber security changing how and where data centres are built?
- Can Africa build its own digital ecosystem while still partnering globally?
- What is the biggest constraint today. power, policy, or market demand?