“The future of Africa will be written in its cities — not just in their skylines, but in how they serve their people.”— António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General
From the bustling streets of Lagos to the green corridors of Kigali, Africa’s cities are alive with transformation. Tower cranes punctuate skylines, fibre-optic cables hum beneath busy streets, and innovation pulses through urban corridors. This World Cities Day 2025, themed “People-Centred Smart Cities,” reminds us that the continent’s urban revolution is no longer a distant dream; it is happening now.
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African cities are no longer just population hubs; they are the engines of economic growth, the incubators of innovation, and the laboratories for sustainable living. But the question remains: how can these cities grow smarter without leaving people behind?
Kigali: Africa’s Smart City Benchmark
Rwanda’s capital has quietly become Africa’s most consistent example of a people-centred smart city. With a near-perfect 47.9/50 score, Kigali outshines competitors like Cape Town and Nairobi in every category.
• Implementation Speed & Scale: Vision City is fully operational, housing 22,000 residents, while Kigali Innovation City spans 70 hectares with over 50 tech firms already driving the digital economy.
• Inclusivity & Affordability: 90% of Vision City’s homes are priced below $50,000, and free Wi-Fi now covers 70% of public spaces, ensuring digital access is not a privilege, but a right.
• Sustainability & Climate Tech: Solar-powered streetlights, AI-optimised traffic, and IoT-enabled waste systems have reduced emissions by 28%, demonstrating how technology can enhance livability.
• Governance & Digital Integration: Through Irembo, 95% of public services are now digital, while a blockchain land registry has prevented any land disputes since 2022.
• Economic Impact: Kigali anticipates 50,000 new jobs by 2030 and has secured a $2 billion FDI pipeline, becoming Africa’s top city for ease of doing business in 2025.
Kigali is proof that smart urbanisation is not about glitzy infrastructure alone; it is about people-first design, transparency, and inclusivity.
Nigeria: Lagos and Eko Atlantic — Dreams and Challenges
Across West Africa, Nigeria’s cities illustrate the scale and complexity of Africa’s urban revolution. Lagos, a megacity of over 25 million residents, faces immense pressure: congestion, inadequate public transport, housing shortages, and flooding. Yet, it also leads to innovation and resilience.
Projects like Eko Atlantic City, a $6 billion land reclamation initiative, aim to create a modern, sustainable urban hub. Smart infrastructure, flood management systems, and climate-resilient buildings are part of Nigeria’s vision for a city that can compete globally. Meanwhile, Lagos is experimenting with digital governance, cashless transport, and urban mobility apps that aim to bring technology closer to the people.
However, the challenge remains balancing high-tech development with affordability and equity. Lagos’ success will be measured not by its skyline, but by whether the majority of its citizens can access safe housing, clean water, reliable electricity, and digital services.
Cape Town, Nairobi, and Other Contenders
Cape Town remains a strong player, especially in private-sector partnerships and economic impact. Nairobi’s Konza Technopolis is another ambitious project, blending education, technology, and infrastructure. Both cities show that Africa’s urban future depends on integrating innovation with inclusivity.
But the continent’s challenge is clear: technology alone does not define a smart city. It is meaningful only when it enhances lives, promotes equality, and strengthens governance.
Inclusivity: The Soul of Africa’s Smart Cities
Kigali has shown that connectivity is more than internet access; it is empowerment. Free public Wi-Fi, affordable housing, and digital literacy initiatives are shaping a city where citizens are active participants in urban life.
Across Africa, millions of urban residents live in informal settlements. Cities must design policies that bridge the gap between high-tech districts and underserved communities, ensuring that smart urban growth benefits everyone, not just the privileged few.
Sustainability: Climate and Urban Health at the Core
African cities are on the frontlines of climate change. Floods, heatwaves, and waste management crises threaten urban livelihoods. Kigali’s solar streetlights, IoT waste bins, and AI traffic systems demonstrate how technology can reduce emissions, protect public health, and improve quality of life.
In Lagos, pilot solar energy projects and urban drainage reforms show promise, but scale and governance remain hurdles. African cities must embed climate resilience into every urban plan, ensuring smart growth aligns with environmental sustainability.
Economic Transformation Through Smart Cities
Urbanisation drives economic opportunity. Kigali’s smart city initiatives are projected to create tens of thousands of jobs, attract billions in investment, and spur the digital economy. Similarly, Lagos’ entrepreneurial ecosystem is thriving, fueled by tech hubs, fintech, and logistics innovations.
A people-centred approach ensures that these economic gains translate into livelihoods, education, and improved living standards rather than widening inequality.
Governance: Technology as a Tool, Not a Spectacle
The digital revolution in African cities is most impactful when it serves citizens rather than dazzles them. Kigali’s blockchain land registry, Nigeria’s cashless transit experiments, and Nairobi’s integrated urban planning platforms demonstrate that effective governance is the backbone of smart cities.
Transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement must guide every innovation. Only then will smart city initiatives achieve long-term resilience and social equity.
A Call to Action: African Leadership for Urban Transformation
As World Cities Day 2025 reminds us, Africa’s urban revolution is at a crossroads. Leaders, policymakers, innovators, and communities must act decisively:
• Invest in inclusive, affordable housing and digital access for all citizens.
• Embed climate resilience and public health into every urban project.
• Ensure digital governance platforms are transparent, accessible, and equitable.
• Balance economic growth with social equity, leaving no resident behind.
The African Leadership Magazine joins the United Nations and global partners in urging African leaders to champion people-first smart city strategies that fuse technology with inclusion, innovation with empathy, and progress with sustainability. The urban future is not about machines replacing humans, but about technology empowering communities.
Kigali has proven that the blueprint exists. Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and other nations now have the opportunity to scale people-centred smart solutions continent-wide, transforming concrete and code into cities that breathe, empower, and sustain life.
Africa’s urban future is not a distant vision; it is being written today, and the continent’s leadership must ensure that its cities reflect the hopes, dignity, and potential of every African citizen.
