On 23 April 2026, the world marks International Girls in ICT Day under the ITU’s theme, “AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future.” For Registre Afrique, this is a moment to recognise the young African women already building the products and ideas that will shape the continent’s digital decade.
Africa’s Digital Economy Has a New Face
Young women are a growing presence in Africa’s tech sector. Across Lagos, Nairobi, Cape Town, Abidjan, and Tunis, African founders are working at every level of the industry:
- Training large language models to understand African languages
- Engineering fintech rails for cross-border trade
- Designing AgriTech platforms that support smallholder farmers
- Developing health tools for communities that traditional systems have overlooked
Much of this work is being led by women, across every region of the continent.
The Divide That Remains
A significant gap in digital access still exists. Research co-published by the African Union’s CIEFFA surveyed more than 4,000 women and girls across 52 of Africa’s 54 countries, and found that:
- Only 14% have any AI skills, though 79% want to learn them
- Six in ten have never received formal digital skills training
- More than a third do not own a digital device
These figures illustrate why Girls in ICT Day is vital. Young African women are eager to be contributors in this part of the industry, but they require a more defined pathway into the digital economy.
Bridging the Gap: Registry.Africa and the Last Mile of Digital Inclusion
This is where our purpose meets potential. As the steward of the .africa top-level domain, Registry.Africa maintains the critical infrastructure that powers our continental identity. However, we believe that infrastructure only achieves its true value when it is accessible to those ready to lead.
As the digital heartbeat of the continent, the Fondation dotAfrica empowers African communities by channeling its influence and deep-rooted industry expertise into:
- Content development that reflects African languages and communities
- Capacity building for the African registrar market
- ICT socio-economic upliftment across the continent
By dismantling barriers to the digital economy, the Foundation ensures that young women move beyond being mere observers to possessing the independent platforms and technical foundations necessary to drive Africa’s digital evolution.
A Pillar of the Pan-African Movement
Owning a .africa domain is a powerful continental statement. When a young woman launches her first digital venture on a .africa extension, she is boldly declaring that her innovation is an integral part of the African narrative. This choice boosts her visibility within regional markets and also connects her to a vast pan-African network of collaborators and customers who recognize and support the value of her work.
This empowerment is an important pillar of Girls in ICT Day 2026 and aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the blueprint for a continent driven by the talent of its own citizens. By claiming a .africa domain, young women place their projects at the heart of a movement designed to ensure they lead their own digital journeys and tell their stories to the world.
Claiming Digital Real Estate
Ownership is the essential foundation of the message we are sharing this Girls in ICT Day. Beyond mere access, we believe young women must own the “real estate” where their ideas live. Registering a .africa domain is an act of self-determination; it creates a digital legacy where a young woman’s work is protected, her brand is distinct, and her voice is the primary authority.
A Call to the Next Generation of Creators
As we mark 23 April, we appreciate the courage of young women entering the global digital marketplace. If you are creating something impactful, it belongs on a stage that recognizes its origin and its future. We encourage you to establish your continental footprint with a .Domaine .africa available through our registraires accrédités and take your rightful place in the digital evolution of our continent.