Africa stands at a critical point in its digital transformation journey. As digital technologies rapidly reshape governance, business, and public services across the continent, the need for ethical, inclusive, and forward-thinking data governance has never been greater. Yet existing data governance structures are struggling to keep pace. Institutional weaknesses, fragmented data practices, and inadequate safeguards continue to undermine trust and stifle innovation. To fully harness the power of data, Africa must build trusted, citizen-centred ecosystems that promote transparency, empower communities, and drive inclusive, tech-enabled growth. The Africa’s Data Future Fellowship invests in the next generation of leaders who are ready to close this gap.
The 2025 Africa’s Data Future Fellowship, launched by the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), is a bold, pan-African initiative designed to elevate policy leadership in the data governance space. This 3-month, fully remote programme equips emerging data governance changemakers with the skills, mentorship, and networks to turn expertise into action and shape the continent’s digital transformation.
Fellows engage with six critical themes:
Through hands-on learning and collaborative policy development, Fellows gain the capacity to craft practical solutions to Africa’s most urgent data governance challenges, while strengthening professional networks that drive sustained, cross-border impact.
A cohort of 1 inspiring Fellows from across Africa’s five sub-regions
Tanzania, United Republic of, East Africa
Expertise:
Artificial Intelligence, sign language recognition, natural language processing, virtual and immersive reality, and assessment methodology.
Summary:
Dr. Nicodemus Msafiri Mbwambo is the Director of Academics at Arusha Technical College (ATC) in Arusha, Tanzania, a role he took up in May 2026. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Clemson University, USA. His research covers artificial intelligence, sign language recognition, natural language processing, virtual and immersive reality, and assessment methodology. He leads TSL-OPEN, an open Tanzanian Sign Language corpus initiative, and supervises applied projects including a virtual-reality visual acuity test. His recent work examines oral examination as a resilient form of assessment in the era of generative AI. At ATC, Dr. Mbwambo has held several leadership roles. He was Head of the Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering (2017–2019), Head of the Industrial Liaison Office (2024–2025), and Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering (2025–2026). Through these roles, he has worked closely on technical and vocational education and training (TVET) policy. This includes NACTVET regulatory frameworks, competence-based education and training, industrial practical training, and quality assurance through moderation.
English
Arab
Deutsch
Português
China