AfriLabs Charts Future Course at 10th Gathering: Policy, Capital, and Progress Take Center Stage in Nairobi

-

  The 10th AfriLabs Annual Gathering (AAG 2025) officially commenced today at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON). This landmark event marks a decade of excellence for Africa's largest network of technology and innovation hubs. Running from October 13-15, the gathering has convened over 2,000 participants from more than 50 countries under the theme, "Africa's Innovation Future: Policy, Partnerships & Progress".

  AfriLabs, which connects over 500 innovation hubs across 53 countries, is using the three-day event to establish the actionable roadmaps for the continent's next decade of digital transformation. 

         Ahunna Eziakonwa, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Bureau for Africa, UNDP, gives her keynote address during the Afrilabs Annual Gathering 2025.


   Driving the Three Pillars of Growth

   The core of the AAG 2025 agenda is structured around the three key drivers necessary to position Africa at the forefront of global innovation:

  •Policy: The gathering emphasizes exploring regulatory frameworks and governance structures that enable innovation while ensuring responsible technology deployment across African markets. High-level leaders, including Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, returned to the gathering to contribute his extensive experience as a proponent of catalytic policy.

 •Partnerships: Discussions center on fostering strategic collaborations between governments, private sector players, development partners, and innovation hubs to create sustainable ecosystems that drive socio-economic growth.

 •Progress: The event celebrates achievements, measures impact, and charts the path forward for Africa's digital transformation journey.



       A Moonshot Vision for Capital Mobilization

  A cornerstone partnership unveiled is the strategic alignment between AfriLabs and the UNDP-backed Timbuktoo initiative. Described as a "ten-year moonshot vision," Timbuktoo aims to create an unprecedented support platform for Africa's innovation ecosystem by mobilizing private capital. The goal is to retain innovation on the continent by turning nascent ideas into "meaningful scaling and disruptive pan-African enterprises".

   Natalie Jabangwe, Executive Secretary and CEO of the Timbuktoo Africa Innovation Foundation, and Joan Manda, Global Lead at Timbuktoo, are leading discussions on how this collaboration will reshape the continent's innovation financing landscape.

        Policy Engagement at the Highest Level

   The event's emphasis on policy was immediately evident with a high-level Ministerial Roundtable. The session brought together government leaders and innovation ecosystem architects to address critical policy frameworks.

   Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director, Regional Bureau for Africa, participated in discussions on how innovation ecosystems contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Furthermore, Oswald Osaretin Guobadia, architect of Nigeria's Startup Act, is contributing insights on translating policy vision into implementation.

   Executive Director Anna Ekeledo stated, "The Gathering will be a critical platform for driving the policies, partnerships, and progress necessary to position Africa at the forefront of global innovation". As AfriLabs enters its second decade, it remains focused on strengthening policy advocacy, deepening partnerships to mobilize capital, and ensuring inclusive innovation across its extensive network.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DON’T FEAR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, EMBRACE IT AS A PARTNER IN JUSTICE: KENYAN ADVOCATE LAWRENCE KINYANJUI URGES LEGAL PROFESSION

-
Image
  As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape global industries, Kenyan legal professionals are being urged to embrace technology rather than view it as a threat to their livelihoods.   Speaking on the sidelines of a recent high-level legal conference centered on AI’s impact on the legal landscape, Lawrence Kenyanjui, an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, challenged lawyers—particularly young practitioners entering the field—to adapt to technological changes to enhance service delivery and access to justice.        "Business Unusual": Adapting to a New Reality   This year’s conference theme focused on the disruptive force of technology under the banner of "Business Unusual: AI and Its Impact on Legal Practice." According to Kenyanjui, the event served as a crucial wake-up call for the legal fraternity to acknowledge the inevitability of digital transformation.   "We've been challenged to keep up with AI and to adopt it in our practices...
Read more

Institutional Crisis: The Exclusion of Professionals in Kenya’s Land Governance

-
Image
   The Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) has issued a stern press statement expressing "great disappointment" regarding the recent nomination of the Chairperson and members of the National Land Commission (NLC). Dated February 18, 2026, the release highlights a growing rift between the executive office and the professional bodies tasked with managing Kenya's land resources.       President of the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK),Eric Nyadimo (center),and CEO Peter Kibet (second from left)  alongside other officials lead a discussion regarding the recent appointments to the National Land Commission (NLC).         The Core Grievance: Expertise Ignored   The primary concern raised by the ISK is the apparent exclusion of core land professionals from the commission’s leadership. Despite these professionals possessing the technical and spatial expertise required by law, they appear to have been bypassed in favor of other appo...
Read more

High Court Advocate Katerina Handa Launches Campaign for LSK Female Representative to the Judicial Service Commission

-
Image
   Advocate E. Katerina Handa has officially entered the race for the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) female representative seat to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). Running on a platform centered on integrity, transparency, and accountability, Handa aims to bridge the gap between practicing lawyers and the administration of justice.           High Court Advocate Ekaterina Handa           A Strong Track Record in Practice & Leadership   Admitted to the Roll of Advocates in 2007, Handa brings nearly two decades of legal expertise across practice, academia, and alternative dispute resolution. • Legal Practice: Partner at Gitonga, Kinyanjui & Co. Advocates. Academia & Dispute Resolution: Legal scholar, lecturer, and certified mediator and arbitrator. • LSK Engagement: Active member across key structures, including the Commercial Practice, Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and Editorial Commit...
Read more