Pedro Lopes

Speaker Bio

Secretary of State for Digital Economy of Cabo Verde | Member, World Economic
Forum Global Future Council | Obama Foundation Leader
Pedro Lopes is a prominent voice among a new generation of African leaders
shaping the future of innovation, digital transformation, and youth empowerment.
With a degree in International Relations from the University of Coimbra (Portugal)
and a Master’s in Conflict Resolution from the University of Bradford (UK), he has
built a career bridging government, the private sector, and international
organizations to accelerate progress across the continent.
Appointed at 31 as Cabo Verde’s youngest government member, Pedro served as
Secretary of State for Innovation and TVET (2018), where he launched landmark
initiatives including the Prime Minister’s Youth Council and “Cabo Verde Digital,” a
flagship program driving the country's digital revolution and startup ecosystem.
Now as Secretary of State for Digital Economy (2021), he leads the implementation
of the national Digital Strategy—positioning Cabo Verde as a Digital Nation and
emerging tech hub in the Atlantic—focusing on digital inclusion, talent
development, and international partnerships.
Pedro is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council , an
Obama Foundation Leader and a Mandela Washington Fellow (USA). He regularly
represents Cabo Verde on global stages advocating for youth leadership,
innovation, and digital equity.
His work spans across sectors: he served with the United Nations in Cabo Verde,
led youth engagement projects for the European Union in Italy, worked in
international business with Grupo Catarino,Portugal and was Executive Vice
President at Wansati Communications, Cabo Verde. He also played key roles in the
Africa Innovation Summit and directed the “African Innovations” exhibition. A
passionate believer in the power of ideas, Pedro organized Cabo Verde’s first TEDx
event.
His leadership has earned him global recognition, including:
– 100 Future Leaders in Government (Apolitical)
– MIPAD Global 100 Under 40 – Politics & Governance
– World Politician of the Year nominee (One Young World)
– Personality of the Year (Público – P3, Portugal)
– Best of the Year – Business & Entrepreneurship (We Are Cabo Verde)
For more info - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedrolopescv/