‘Web Summit opens new pathways for Africa-Middle East tech collaboration’

Doha, Qatar: At Web Summit Qatar, founder of Lumo Hubs and African Women in Technology, Anie Akpe believes the conversation between Africa and the Mid...

Doha, Qatar: At Web Summit Qatar, founder of Lumo Hubs and African Women in Technology, Anie Akpe believes the conversation between Africa and the Middle East is shifting from aspiration to action.

According to Akpe, the key lies in intent and access. Speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the Web Summit Qatar 2026, she said,  “The important thing is that they are opening their doors and saying, ‘We are looking for opportunities in which we can help you strengthen and grow,”’ pointing to Qatar’s growing investment in digital infrastructure and emerging technologies.

As the country develops its own AI deployment and innovation ecosystems, Akpe believes it offers alternatives for African startups beyond traditional technology hubs. “It gives us options that we don’t just have to say go to China or even go to the US,” she said, adding that geographic proximity makes collaboration between the two regions more practical. “The opportunities to work together are actually much closer.”

Akpe stressed that technology partnerships must be backed by policy and public-sector commitment. “These regions need the support of a strong government system that deploys technology,” she said, explaining that such systems can then be adapted and applied more effectively across African markets.

Through Lumo Hubs and African Women in Technology, Akpe has spent more than a decade building innovation hubs that combine creative studios, vocational labs, AI-powered learning and digital pathways designed to create meaningful work at the community level.