The African Union Commission (AUC), through the Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI), officially kicked off the Innovating Education in Africa (IEA) 2026 Expo at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Source: African Union.
The two-day continental event has brought together policymakers, education innovators, researchers, academia, development partners, the private sector and youth representatives from across Africa and beyond to advance innovative solutions that will accelerate the digital transformation of education and skills development on the continent Source: African Union.
Held under the theme "Accelerating the Digital Transformation of Education: Scaling Innovative Solutions for the AU Decade of Education and Skills Development (2025-2034)," the event serves as a strategic platform for showcasing African-led innovations, strengthening policy dialogue and fostering partnerships Source: African Union.
Opening the event, H.E. Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, reaffirmed the African Union's commitment to transforming education systems that equip Africans with the knowledge, skills and competencies required to thrive in an increasingly digital, innovative and knowledge-driven economy Source: African Union.
"The future of Africa will be shaped not simply by what we consume, but by what we create. We must therefore build education systems that prepare our young people not only to find jobs but to create them, while ensuring that African innovations are designed, developed and scaled across our continent," the Commissioner stated Source: African Union.
Prof. Banyankimbona further emphasized that digital transformation is not solely about technology, but about transforming teaching, learning, research and innovation through reliable digital infrastructure, relevant curricula, strengthened research ecosystems and meaningful partnerships Source: African Union.
He called for increased investments in artificial intelligence, robotics, digital literacy, STEM education, green skills and research commercialization to strengthen Africa's competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Source: African Union.
A key highlight of the day saw 10 innovators from across the continent present transformative solutions during the African Union Education Innovation Prize pitching sessions. Discussions also focused on strengthening teacher capacity, AI literacy and youth reskilling as essential drivers of Africa's future workforce Source: African Union.
The Innovating Education in Africa programme, established by the African Union in 2018, continues to promote African-led education innovations by identifying high-impact solutions, supporting their adoption and facilitating knowledge exchange among Member States Source: African Union.
