Summit Urges Culturally Rooted Digital Wellness, Ethical AI

Experts in the digital sector have convened to explore practical, Afrocentric pathways for thriving in a digital society, prioritising mental sovereignty and human-centric technology across the continent.

The summit organised by ‘Doing Healthy Africa’ and ‘Wise Working Leadership’ code-named ‘Living Digitally Well Africa Summit 2026,’  focused on advancing practical pathways for thriving in a digitally connected society. Reflecting on its international scope and cross-continental collaboration, the summit featured 21 global experts and thought leaders representing nine countries including Nigeria, Rwanda, Ghana, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, the United Kingdom and the United States. Proceedings established a clear consensus that digital wellness cannot be imported but must be rooted in indigenous cultural values, as emphasised during the opening address by co-convener and founder, Doing Healthy Africa, Oluwatosin Olabode.

According to a statement by Olabode in Abuja via [email protected] yesterday, a central theme that emerged across the two-day summit was the need to move beyond prioritising connectivity towards intentionally optimising human well-being and psychological flourishing.

“As the continent navigates rapid digital expansion, participants noted that unexamined digital habits are contributing to cognitive fatigue, relational disconnection, and rising mental health concerns across both youth and workforce populations,” the statement said.

Experts called for Afrocentric models of digital resilience grounded in extended kinship, community support and contextual realities, while rejecting passive adoption of global systems that do not reflect local needs.

Delivering the keynote address, co-convener Craig DeLarge, a digital health strategist, said what distinguishes African digital wellness is rooted in Ubuntu, the principle of interdependence, positioning community as essential to safeguarding younger populations. Edith Utete, an online safety expert, reinforced this perspective by urging stakeholders to move away from Eurocentric frameworks that fail to serve African families.

Highlighting the urgency of foundational digital literacy, Collince Dundo, a youth development expert, noted that the digital world is a roaring ocean and while children cannot be kept from entering it, they must not be sent without a life jacket.

In his goodwill message, Dr. Ayodele Bakare, the assistant director, cybersecurity department, representing the director general, National Information Technology Development Agency, underscored the responsibility of shaping the continent’s digital future. He noted that the digital landscape was expanding at a rapid pace and emphasised that individuals are not merely beneficiaries but architects of that future, with a responsibility to build it wisely. He further confirmed ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Education to integrate digital literacy into national school curricula from primary through junior secondary levels, positioning it as a critical survival skill.

Navigating everyday digital life and the modern workplace, Oluwatosin, a certified digital wellness consultant, further emphasised that technology itself is not the challenge, but rather unexamined digital habits.

Discussions highlighted how constant connectivity contributes to cognitive fatigue and relational strain. Victor Prince Dickson (A Human Capital Engineer) asserted that workers and organizations must reclaim their “mental sovereignty, defined as the capacity to exercise clear boundaries in digitally saturated environments. Participants further emphasised the importance of designing workplace systems that sustain energy, meaning, safety, and long-term growth.

Dr. Abel Mekonnen of the Africa CDC stressed that digital innovation must directly address real public health challenges, emphasising that solutions should be built with African health systems through co-design rather than external adaptation. This call for localized innovation aligned with broader discussions on ethical artificial intelligence. Dr. Damien Eke, Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham, reinforced the importance of narrative ownership, noting that Africans must define how artificial intelligence systems are designed, developed, and governed to reflect continental realities.

Summit organizers announced plans to sustain engagement beyond the event through ongoing community platforms, including dedicated digital spaces, substacks and podcasts. They also confirmed that the next edition of the Living Digitally Well Africa Summit will be convened as an in-person gathering in Nigeria from October 5 to 7, 2027.

Living Digitally Well Africa Summit 2026 is a premier event convened by Doing Healthy Africa and Wise Working Leadership. The summit explores practical pathways for thriving in a digital society through an Afrocentric lens, addressing the intersection of children’s development, everyday digital behavior, workplace wellbeing, and ethical artificial intelligence. It provides a platform for leaders to shape a digitally resilient and culturally grounded future.