Mastercard has unveiled a new whitepaper, Harnessing the Transformative Power of AI in Africa, forecasting that the continent’s digital workforce could expand to 230 million by 2030, fueled by the responsible and inclusive adoption of artificial intelligence.
The pan-African report examines the continent’s readiness for AI integration, the opportunities it presents, and a roadmap for its deployment across key sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, energy, and finance. It stresses that AI, when developed with strong local context and ethical safeguards, has the potential to revolutionize industries and accelerate job creation.
Mark Elliott, Division President for Africa at Mastercard, noted that AI’s influence in Africa is already visible beyond research labs, reaching farms, clinics, and classrooms. “To unlock its full potential, we need investment in infrastructure, data, talent, and policy. At Mastercard, we believe responsible, locally rooted AI can drive inclusive growth and connect more people to opportunity,” he said.
The whitepaper highlights Africa’s distinct advantages, including its young population, mobile-first digital infrastructure, and strong entrepreneurial culture, positioning it to play a central role in the global AI economy. According to data cited in the report, Africa’s AI market is expected to grow from $4.5 billion in 2025 to $16.5 billion by 2030.
Greg Ulrich, Chief AI and Data Officer at Mastercard, emphasized the importance of trust in AI adoption. “AI is only as powerful as the trust behind it. At Mastercard, we’re committed to building AI that’s responsible, inclusive, and built to bring value to our customers, partners, and employees. This isn’t just innovation; it’s innovation with integrity,” he stated.
The report also presents notable examples of AI progress across Africa. In South Africa, which attracted $610 million in AI-focused venture capital in 2023, national plans aim to develop 300 AI startups and train 5,000 AI professionals by 2030. The country is channeling AI innovation into sectors such as fintech, health tech, and agriculture, with policy support to foster growth.
Kenya’s National AI Strategy (2025–2030) focuses on research, innovation, and commercialization, with initiatives like Tala leveraging mobile data for credit scoring and Jacaranda Health’s UlizaLlama, an AI chatbot offering maternal health guidance in five local languages.
Nigeria, ranked second in Africa for AI startups, secured $218 million in AI-related venture capital in 2023. The country is harnessing AI for personalized learning through platforms like Rising Academies, improving access to microfinance with Kudi.ai, and strengthening governance through AI tools that monitor public fund allocation. Nigeria’s AI market is projected to reach $1.4 billion by 2025.
Mastercard’s whitepaper ultimately positions AI as a transformative force for Africa’s economy capable of creating millions of jobs, boosting productivity, and improving quality of life provided it is implemented in a way that is inclusive, trusted, and aligned with the continent’s unique needs.
