Africa’s rapidly growing youth population is expected to take center stage at the upcoming THE Africa Universities Summit 2026 in Nairobi, where policymakers, academics and entrepreneurs will explore how higher education can accelerate the continent’s entrepreneurial growth.
Scheduled for March 30–31, the summit will convene leaders from universities, businesses and civil society to examine how academic institutions can better nurture entrepreneurial talent and support the creation of innovative start-ups across Africa.
With more than 400 million young people on the continent, experts increasingly view youth entrepreneurship as a critical driver of economic growth, job creation and digital transformation.
The summit will focus on strengthening start-up ecosystems, cultivating entrepreneurial mindsets among students and connecting universities with industry partners to support innovation.
Key discussions will also explore how research and innovation can help address global and regional challenges, while also translating academic knowledge into viable business ventures.
Among the prominent speakers expected at the event are Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice-Chancellor of Makerere University; Letlhokwa Mpedi, Vice-Chancellor of University of Johannesburg; and Tonny Omwansa, Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya National Innovation Agency.
Entrepreneurship advocates such as Caroline Nyaga, founder of the Women in STEAM Initiative, are also expected to highlight how gender inclusion can expand Africa’s innovation economy by enabling more women to participate in science, technology and start-up ecosystems.
Organisers say the summit will feature more than 30 hours of discussions, workshops and keynote sessions, alongside nine hours of networking opportunities connecting over 350 participants from more than 150 organisations and universities.
The event builds on the momentum of the 2025 edition held in Rwanda, which highlighted the role of collaboration between universities and industry in driving workforce development and innovation.
According to Leonard Musyoka, Registrar and Chief of Staff at the University of Nairobi, the summit offers a vital platform for advancing discussions on Africa’s higher education transformation.
As African universities increasingly position themselves as innovation hubs, the summit is expected to generate new ideas on how academic institutions can nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs and unlock the continent’s vast human capital.