THE Africa Universities Summit 2026

With more than 400 million voices, young people in Africa are dynamic and ambitious to succeed. The THE Africa Universities Summit 2026, taking place 30-31 March in Nairobi, Kenya, will explore how to cascade and amplify regional growth and innovation across the continent by expanding its pool of human capital.

The event will explore four themes:

Addressing world challenges
Uniting global and local collaborations to tackle today’s most pressing challenges, harnessing research and innovation to deliver sustainable solutions and inspire university leadership in times of change.

Innovation, entrepreneurship and start-ups
Empowering entrepreneurial mindsets and bolstering digital skills to fuel innovation, strengthening start-up ecosystems and unlocking the continent’s vast potential for sustainable economic growth.

Work readiness and skills development
Shaping future-ready graduates through employer partnerships, innovative curricula and tailored support to help students thrive in their academic and professional journeys.

EDI and gender equality in higher education
Driving inclusion and diversity by removing barriers, fostering belonging and championing gender equality to create institutions that truly reflect their societies.

Across the two days, delegates will attend keynote speeches, panel discussions and workshops exploring these themes in more depth through sessions including:

- Growing ambition: Building university preparedness for Africa's human capital potential
- Instilling a start-up mindset among staff and students across Kenya
- Smashing the glass ceiling – ensuring gender equality is central to institutional success
- Global partnerships to support institutional impact and competitive edge
- Scaling Africa's research excellence
- AI in African higher education

The event will host 350+ attendees, 150+ organisations and universities and 80+ speakers including:

John Gyapong, Secretary-General, African Research Universities Alliance
Chérifa Abdelbaki, Unesco Chairholder and Research Programme Coordinator
Letlhokwa Mpedi, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Johannesburg
Tonny Omwansa, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya National Innovation Agency
Caroline Nyaga, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Women in STEAM Initiative

Book today and access the early-bird discount before Friday 27 February 2026 and save $150.