At the opening of the ID4Africa 2025 Summit in Addis Ababa, Dr. Joseph Atik, CEO of ID4Africa, issued a stark warning about the growing challenges posed by unilateralism and self-serving agendas from the northern hemisphere. He called on African nations to rapidly advance digital identity initiatives and strengthen internal capacities to navigate an increasingly complex global landscape.Addressing over 2,300 participants from more than 100 countries, including over 1,000 African government officials, Dr. Atik emphasized that the era of “business as usual” is over.
He described digital identity not merely as an innovation but as an urgent necessity, with the cost of inaction escalating exponentially.He urged African countries to adopt what he termed “digital primitive thinking,” a mindset focused on foundational digital identity infrastructure that can withstand geopolitical shifts. The rise of unilateralism and selfish policies, particularly from northern countries, is exacerbating global tensions and erecting barriers where cooperation is most needed.Dr. Atik stressed that Africa must draw strength from within by mobilizing collective resources and charting its own future. He called for relations with international partners to be based on equality and mutual respect for sovereignty and priorities.Highlighting the continent’s financial constraints, he underscored the importance of digital identity projects demonstrating clear returns on investment (ROI) from inception. To avoid worsening national debts, he advocated for transparent public-private partnerships and alternative funding models, encouraging economists to contribute data and research to support these efforts.
The summit spotlighted a critical risk to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.9, which aims for universal birth registration and legal identity by 2030. Citing UNICEF forecasts, Dr. Atik warned that without bold and swift action, Africa may miss this target for generations, potentially until 2060.He stressed that birth registration must serve as the foundation not only for legal identity but also for credible digital identity systems that empower individuals and protect their rights in the digital age.While acknowledging the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to add trillions to the global economy, Dr. Atik cautioned that AI could deepen Africa’s digital divide if not managed carefully. He called for forward-looking policies and coordinated investments in local data infrastructure and regional cooperation to ensure equitable benefits.Cybersecurity was highlighted as a growing threat, with state-sponsored cyberattacks posing risks to digital public infrastructure, including digital identity systems. Dr. Atik urged identity authorities to treat cybersecurity as a matter of national defense and to bolster their defenses accordingly.Yodahe Zemichael, Executive Director of Ethiopia’s National ID Program, proudly announced that Ethiopia’s Basic Identity system now serves 15 million citizens, a remarkable achievement in just three years. He attributed this success to strong political leadership, local technical expertise, and strategic partnerships.Ethiopia’s “Ethiopian Stack” digital infrastructure is laying the foundation for the country’s digital future, already enabling access to essential services and economic opportunities.Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to digital transformation, describing digital identity as a fundamental pillar that connects people to services, communities to institutions, and governments to citizens’ aspirations. He highlighted that nearly 50 million Ethiopians have been reached and emphasized the goal of universal coverage regardless of location, income, or background.The Prime Minister also stressed Ethiopia’s dedication to adapting innovative open-source platforms tailored to national needs and ensuring technological sovereignty.The ID4Africa 2025 Summit, the continent’s premier digital identity event, demonstrated that achieving universal digital identity in Africa requires not only technological innovation but also unprecedented political will, financial prudence, and a united front to confront the challenges posed by a rapidly shifting global order.
