Digispace Africa closed its 2026 Fellowship on September 18 with a virtual Research Symposium that drew emerging researchers, digital policy practitioners and experts from across the continent to discuss Africa’s digital trajectory.
The event, themed “From Research to Impact: African Perspectives on the Digital Future,” marked the end of months of research, mentorship and learning across four pillars: Digital Rights & Governance, AI & Literacy, Digital Surveillance, and Trust & Safety.
Fellows presented studies on youth participation in digital governance, AI‑driven election disinformation, Ghana’s national AI strategy, online child protection, misinformation, community data rights and account security for African users.
Opening remarks came from Theorose Dzineku, Executive Director of Digispace Africa, who noted the organisation’s growth from a three‑year idea into a platform that supports emerging African researchers. She praised the Fellows for tackling tough questions and completing their work.
Fellowship Manager Barbara Zipporah Ayiku highlighted how the programme has shown the value of spaces where researchers can probe fast‑changing digital issues, noting that the research areas—though distinct—intersect in African societies.
Keynote speaker Emmanuel Adinkrah urged Fellows to move beyond academic outputs, saying, “There’s a difference between research output and research impact.” He challenged them to consider the next life of their research and to translate evidence for policymakers, journalists, communities and the public.
Public interest technologist Osei Kagyah echoed this call, pointing out the gap between ambitious digital policies and the institutional capacity to implement them. He encouraged continued collaboration, stressing that “there is strength in numbers.”
The symposium also unveiled the Digispace Africa Fellowship 2026 Research Report, a 120‑page compilation of the programme’s research, slated for public release by the end of September. The organisation plans advocacy and public‑engagement activities around the findings.
In addition, the event launched the Digispace Africa Alumni Network, a platform for former Fellows to stay connected, share knowledge and pursue future collaborations.
For Digispace Africa, the Fellowship’s conclusion signals the start of a broader effort to move African‑led research beyond reports into policy debates, public discourse and practical action.
