Payment infrastructure company Kora hosted the second edition of its flagship event, Sundown Sessions, under the theme “AI in Africa: Scaling Beyond the Hype.” The event drew over 400 entrepreneurs, creatives, and technology leaders to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming Africa’s economic and creative landscape.

AI as a Catalyst, Not a Replacement

The evening opened with a fireside chat featuring Ifeanyi Nwunne, Creative Director at I.N Official Limited, and Yinka Ash, Founder & CEO of Ashcorp Group. Moderated by Dickson Nsofor, CEO of Kora, the conversation explored AI’s impact on creativity, manufacturing, and consumer engagement in Africa’s fashion industry.

“AI only threatens people who stop innovating,” said Nwunne. “It helps us work faster, visualize ideas better, and bring more precision to what we do. AI is not here to replace creativity but to amplify it.”

Ash added:

“AI can automate tasks, but it cannot feel. When we use it as a partner — not a competitor — we position ourselves to compete globally.”

AI Driving Business Transformation

The first panel, “How Will AI Reshape Business Models in Africa,” featured Somtochukwu Ifezue (PiggyVest), Onyinye Olisah (Onus Financial Services), Buchi Okoro (Quidax), Frank Atat (Industry Practitioner), and Ugodre Obi-Chukwu (Nairametrics), moderated by Chigozirim Nwokeoma of Techpoint Africa.

Key insights included:

• Somtochukwu Ifezue: PiggyVest uses AI tools to enhance productivity and learning across teams.
• Onyinye Olisah: “AI is powerful, but it requires human creativity and insight to be effective.”
• Buchi Okoro: Responsible AI adoption is critical in financial services, emphasizing data protection.
• Frank Atat: AI is increasingly applied in agriculture, from soil testing to crop management.
• Ugodre Obi-Chukwu: In journalism, AI aids in data analysis and drafting, but originality remains human.

Expanding Africa’s Digital Horizons

The event concluded with a keynote by Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Founding Partner at Future Africa, who called on participants to expand their vision of innovation beyond fintech.

“From digital finance to trade and governance, everything depends on digital infrastructure. Too many people still lack internet access. Solving this is key to Africa’s growth.”

Showcasing Kora’s Innovations

Kora also highlighted its AI-integrated payment and risk management solutions, demonstrating how technology can help African businesses scale smarter and faster.

CEO Dickson Nsofor reflected on the company’s motivation:

“AI is driving a new phase of Africa’s digital growth. At Kora, progress happens when technology meets community — Sundown Sessions is our way of creating that bridge.”

From fashion to finance, agriculture to media, the second edition of Kora Sundown Sessions underscored Africa’s readiness to lead the next global wave of innovation, powered by technology, creativity, and collaboration.