A new conversation on the future of finance in Africa is set to take center stage later this month as the Africa Digital Assets Summit (ADAS) makes its debut in Nairobi. The two-day event will be held from April 29–30 at the Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA), bringing together a broad cross-section of leaders to examine how digital innovation can better serve society.
Organizers say the summit will convene more than 1,000 participants, including policymakers, faith leaders, technologists, investors, and civil society representatives. Under the theme “Ethical Stewardship for the Love of the Poor,” discussions will focus on aligning emerging financial technologies with principles of justice, dignity, and inclusivity.
The event draws inspiration from recent Catholic teachings on social responsibility, including Dilexit Te, an apostolic exhortation by Pope Leo XIV, and coincides with the Vatican’s designation of 2026 as the Year of St. Francis. Together, these influences are expected to frame the summit’s emphasis on moral responsibility within rapidly evolving financial systems.
At the center of the initiative is Fred Ogola, an economist and founder of ADAS, who is also a reform advocate and a presidential aspirant under the Liberal Democratic Party for Kenya’s 2027 elections. Ogola has positioned the summit as a platform to rethink financial systems that, he argues, have historically excluded large segments of the population.
His approach is informed by what he describes as a “Solomonic economics” model—an inclusive framework aimed at ensuring equitable access to wealth and opportunity. “Africa needs to evolve to prosperity,” Ogola said in a statement, adding that the summit seeks to catalyze a new era of shared economic growth across the continent.
The timing of the summit reflects growing global attention on blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, and decentralized finance. Across Africa, where digital finance adoption is expanding rapidly, stakeholders are increasingly exploring how such innovations can address longstanding inequalities in access to financial services.
The summit also aligns with broader continental goals, including the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Organizers argue that Africa’s emerging role in digital finance presents an opportunity not only to catch up with global markets but to help redefine them.
“Africa has the opportunity to leap from the margins of global finance to the forefront of its reinvention,” Ogola noted, pointing to Nairobi’s reputation as a leading innovation hub as a key reason for hosting the event in the Kenyan capital.
Attendance at ADAS 2026 will be by invitation only and free of charge, though organizers have opened avenues for sponsorship. The summit is expected to serve as a platform for shaping policy, fostering partnerships, and advancing dialogue on the ethical dimensions of digital finance in Africa.
