AIA Sub-Saharan Africa - World Cities Day: People Centred Smart Cities
When: Friday 31 October 2025 @ 18:00 (SAST)
Where: Online
Speakers
George Asamani, MD, PMI Sub-Saharan Africa
Innocent Musonda, Founder & Director Centre for Applied Research and Innovation in the Built Environment (CARINBE), University Of Johannesburg
Enahoro Zedomi, Managing Partner, Consultants Collaborative Partnership
Kendall Wilson, Founder & CEO, DigitAIchemy
Norman Moyo, Co-founder & CEO, GridAfrica
Mish-al Booley, Head Individual Competence Unit, City of Cape Town
Ricardo McKlmon, Strategic Manager, ConstructionProject Management Institute
Moderator
Kimberly Dowdell, Principal HOK
Description
By 2050, Africa’s population is projected to soar from 1.5 to 2.5 billion, with 80% of that growth concentrated in cities. Urbanisation is accelerating rapidly — over 700 million Africans already live in urban areas, a figure expected to double within the next three decades. More than 60 African cities now exceed one million residents, and by mid-century, over 150 cities will reach this milestone, reshaping the continent’s economic, social, and environmental future.
However, urbanisation alone does not guarantee prosperity — projects do. Every bridge, school, transport network, and digital system represents a project that drives employment, fosters enterprise, and strengthens urban economies.
Africa’s next urban transformation must go beyond infrastructure to embrace intelligence, inclusivity, and connection. The vision of People-Centred Smart Cities, the theme of this year’s World Cities Day, calls for cities that combine smart technology with human development — ensuring growth that is not only fast, but fair and inclusive.
Across the continent, cities are beginning to leverage data, digital platforms, and AI to improve services, from traffic management and waste systems to public safety and governance. Yet true smartness lies in people — not just in technology.
Join AIA Sub-Saharan Africa for an inspiring webinar in partnership with The Project Management Institute (PMI SSA), titled People-Centred Smart Cities: Building Africa’s Urban Future Through Projects That Matter. Discover how project management can turn Africa’s urban growth into a sustainable opportunity.
