•From declining finance to trillion dollar economies as Africa prepares for transformation

By ANGEL NWOKOCHA, Abuja

Prominent leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, academia and policymakers from across the African continent would be speaking at the 2026 Innovate Africa Global Conference scheduled to start on October 12, in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.

These leaders include, Nigeria’s Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesome Wike, Chioma Ude, Kanayo Awani, Benaisha Poole-Watson, Michael V. Roberts, and Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa.

Highlighting the core benefits of the Kigali convention, the conveners of the annual Innovate Africa said Africa stands at a defining moment in its economic transformation, point out that the continent being judged as the world’s youngest population is endowed with abundant natural resources, expanding digital economies, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and that the continent has the opportunity to become one of the world’s leading engines of growth.

The 2026 conference will focus on converting Africa’s opportunities into measurable impact through collaboration, investment, and innovation, with discussions centred on four strategic growth sectors:

Creative Economy: Unlocking the potential of Africa’s music, film, fashion, media, gaming, and digital industries through investment, stronger intellectual property frameworks, and global partnerships.

Through keynote addresses, executive dialogues, investment sessions, startup showcases, and strategic networking, Innovate Africa Conference 2026 will provide a platform for partnerships, investment opportunities, and actionable solutions.

Recalling the success of the previous year, 2025 Innovate Africa Conference in partnership with ECOWAS, held at the ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, the conveners said Innovate Africa would be holding the 2026 conference in Kigali Convention Center from October 12-13, in line with the vision of its founder.

The pan-African platform dedicated to advancing innovation, investment, entrepreneurship, and economic collaboration across the continent, Innovate Africa Convention had previously held in Washington, D.C. and Abuja, hence, the Kigali confab will sustain its high profile gathering that continues to create high-level platforms that connect policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, innovators, and industry leaders to accelerate sustainable economic transformation across Africa.

Main thematic areas for the convention include Agriculture and Food Systems: Advancing agritech, value addition, climate-smart agriculture, and regional supply chains to strengthen food security and create economic opportunities. Technology at Scale: Exploring the role of fintech, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and innovation ecosystems in driving productivity, entrepreneurship, and global competitiveness. Energy Transition: Accelerating access to reliable and sustainable energy while supporting industrial growth, climate resilience, and economic development.

The conference will convene:

● Heads of State and Government Representatives

● Ministers and Policymakers

● Investors, Venture Capital Firms, and Family Offices

● CEOs and Corporate Executives

● Entrepreneurs and Startup Founders

● Development Finance Institutions and Partners

● Technology, Agriculture, Energy, and Creative Industry Leaders

● Academia, Researchers, Youth Leaders, and Emerging Changemakers

Africa’s future will be shaped not only by its potential, but by the partnerships, innovation, and investments made today.

According to the Founder of Innovate Africa Corp, Uloma Onyebuchi, Innovate Africa Conference 2026 is a platform for leaders committed to building resilient economies, globally competitive industries, and a more prosperous African continent.

Innovate Africa Corporation is a pan-African platform dedicated to advancing innovation, investment, entrepreneurship, and economic collaboration across the continent. Through conferences, strategic partnerships, and leadership forums, the organisation brings together governments, businesses, investors, and innovators to develop solutions that support Africa’s sustainable growth and global competitiveness.