Africa’s AI future is not predetermined but will be shaped by the policy choices and partnerships made today. In this episode, Andrew Dabalen speaks with Dr. Chinasa Okolo, a leading expert on AI governance and contributor to the African Union’s AI strategy, about what it will take for Africa to shape its own AI future. The discussion explores the concept of AI sovereignty, highlighting the importance of local capacity, data governance, and context-specific solutions to ensure AI supports inclusive and sustainable development across the continent.

Africa's working-age population is set to surge by over 624 million by 2050 — but are the continent's economies growing fast enough to keep up? In this episode of Afronomics, Andrew Dabalen sits down with Ndiamé Diop, World Bank Regional Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa, to explore what it will take to unlock Africa's growth potential. From agricultural transformation and industrial policy to lessons from East Asia, Diop makes the case for a bold, three-pillar strategy to create jobs at scale for Africa's next generation.

In this episode, Andrew Dabalen, the World Bank’s Chief Economist for Africa, speaks with Fred Swaniker, founder of the African Leadership Group, about how Africa’s rapidly growing workforce, expanding tech‑training ecosystem, and new models of education and leadership development are positioning the continent as a global talent engine. The conversation highlights emerging digital opportunities, innovative talent pipelines, and why Africa could play a defining role in the future of work.