University Mohammed VI Polytechnic Engages on Continental Development and Digital Sovereignty in Kigali
The topic of UM6P digital sovereignty took center stage at the 13th edition of the Africa CEO Forum, held in Kigali, Rwanda. University Mohammed VI Polytechnic joined OCP and OCP Africa for the fourth consecutive year under the theme: “Scale or fail: Why African capitalism must unite.” Through two high-level panels, UM6P addressed African value chains and the future of digital public infrastructure across the continent.
UM6P Digital Sovereignty: Africa’s Most Consequential Debate
The first high-level session, titled “Partnering with Morocco to Unlock Africa’s Value Chains,”placed Morocco at the heart of a structural debate. Mr. Khalid Baddou, Chief Institutional Affairs Officer at UM6P, represented the university in this panel. The discussion moved beyond investment pitches and country branding. Instead, it addressed a more fundamental question: how can Morocco’s position as a stable, connected, and innovation-driven economy anchor continental value chains?
The goal is concrete. Africa needs real jobs and lasting industrial capacity — not short-term capital flows. Therefore, the conversation focused on how Morocco can serve as a platform for inclusive, continent-wide industrialization. Participants from AMDIE, ONHYM, and IFCcontributed to this strategic exchange, adding regulatory, energy, and financial perspectives.
Moreover, UM6P’s presence in this panel confirmed its institutional commitment to translating research and innovation into tangible economic value for Africa.
UM6P Digital Sovereignty: Who Builds, Who Owns, Who Benefits?
The second session Mr. Baddou participated in addressed Africa’s Digital Public Infrastructure. This panel confronted what many considered the most consequential debate of the entire forum. As a result, it attracted high-level speakers from across the continent.
African governments are currently investing billions in digitizing public services. However, this rapid expansion carries significant risks: fragmentation, technological dependency, and long-term lock-in to proprietary systems. These are not abstract concerns. They directly affect whether African states retain control over their digital futures.
Who builds, who owns, who runs, and who ultimately benefits from Africa’s digital infrastructure?
University Mohammed VI Polytechnic engaged with this question from an academic and institutional standpoint. UM6P’s work in digital innovation and applied research positions it as a credible voice in debates on digital sovereignty. In addition, the session underlined a broader consensus: digital public infrastructure must be designed with long-term sovereignty in mind, not short-term efficiency alone.
UM6P’s Continued Engagement with African Leadership
UM6P’s participation in the Africa CEO Forum reflects a consistent institutional strategy. For four years, the university has maintained a visible presence alongside OCP Group at one of the continent’s most influential gatherings. This is not incidental. It reflects UM6P’s mission to position knowledge, science, and applied innovation at the center of Africa’s development agenda.
Furthermore, the 2026 edition confirmed that the most pressing questions facing the continent — industrial integration, digital sovereignty, and economic unity — are precisely the questions that University Mohammed VI Polytechnic is built to help answer.
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