Cassava Technologies founder Strive Masiyiwa has revealed ambitious plans to establish five artificial intelligence (AI) manufacturing facilities across Africa within the next year.
The new factories will be located in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco, marking a significant step in the company’s efforts to expand the continent’s digital infrastructure.
This initiative is part of Cassava’s broader Sovereign AI Cloud strategy, which aims to increase Africa’s data centre capacity and decrease dependence on foreign technology infrastructure. Earlier this year, the company partnered with Nvidia to launch what it described as Africa’s first AI data centre, situated in South Africa and powered by Nvidia’s processors.
Masiyiwa emphasized that these AI factories will serve as critical hubs for innovation, providing local businesses, startups, and researchers with access to advanced AI infrastructure. He highlighted that the facilities will enable African entities to develop and deploy AI solutions without needing to rely on overseas resources. As one of Africa’s leading entrepreneurs, Masiyiwa’s vision underscores a strategic push to foster technological self-sufficiency and drive digital growth across the continent.
