AfriLabs

Who will be shaping the conversations at AAG 2026? 🎙️ The voices in the room matter. And at this year's AfriLabs Annual Gathering, we are bringing together experienced ecosystem leaders, innovators and industry experts for a candid exchange on the ideas, challenges and opportunities shaping Africa's innovation landscape. Meet the panellists for the AAG 2026 Candid Conversation, featuring perspectives from across the continent, including entrepreneurship, investment, technology, community building and innovation. Moderated by Bede-Obong Umoh, Senior Ecosystem Events Officer at AfriLabs, the conversation will take place on: 📅 Wednesday, 4 November 2026 ⏰ 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM WAT 💻 Online Don't just follow the conversations shaping Africa's innovation ecosystem. Be in the room, bring your perspective and engage directly with the people driving change across the continent. Secure your spot and register now: bit.ly/4hWPDdp #AAG2026 #AfriLabs

What if Africa stopped treating climate action only as a cost and started building industries around the solutions? Coastlines need protection. Waste needs new uses. Industries need cleaner models. Communities need greater resilience. Inside those challenges are also opportunities for new businesses, technologies, jobs and value chains. That is where the Green & Blue Economy Track at #AAG2026 begins. We are looking at how innovation and entrepreneurship can turn climate resilience, circular economies, clean industries and the responsible use of Africa’s natural assets into real economic opportunity. The question is no longer whether Africa must respond to climate change. It is what can we build while responding to it? 📖 Explore the thinking behind the track: events.afrilabs.com/blog/fro… 🎟️ Join us in Cotonou: bit.ly/AAG2026 #AfriLabs #AAG2026 #ClimateInnovation #GreenEconomy #BlueEconomy

🌍 Partner Spotlight: @Meta Joins the 11th AfriLabs Annual Gathering! What will it take to build a more connected, inclusive and competitive digital economy in Africa? Connectivity infrastructure, accessible technology and opportunities for African innovators to build solutions that address local challenges are all part of the equation. We are pleased to welcome Meta as a Partner for the 11th AfriLabs Annual Gathering. Through platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads, Meta connects billions of people and supports businesses in reaching customers and growing their operations. Beyond its platforms, Meta is investing in the foundations of Africa's digital economy. Its involvement in the 2Africa subsea cable project, which spans approximately 45,000 kilometres and connects more than 30 countries, is helping expand connectivity across Africa and beyond. Meta is also advancing access to open-source AI through initiatives such as Llama and No Language Left Behind, which covers 48 Sub-Saharan African languages, creating opportunities for developers, researchers and startups to build AI solutions that respond to local needs. Its Llama Impact Accelerator has further supported emerging startups across Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Senegal through technical training, mentorship and equity-free funding. These efforts highlight the role of technology, infrastructure and innovation in shaping Africa's digital future. 📍 Join us in Cotonou, Benin, from 18–20 November 2026, at the Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hôtel et Spa for the 11th AfriLabs Annual Gathering. Connect with Meta and over 1,200 innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and ecosystem leaders from across Africa and beyond. 🎟️ Secure your ticket and be part of the conversation: bit.ly/AAG2026 #AAG2026 #AfriLabs #Meta #AfricanInnovation #DigitalTransformation #ArtificialIntelligence #Connectivity

📢 Exhibitor Spotlight: LAfricaMobile How can organisations reach African communities across different languages, devices and levels of internet access? LAfricaMobile is helping make that possible. We are pleased to welcome LAfricaMobile as an Exhibitor at the 11th AfriLabs Annual Gathering (#AAG2026). As a pan-African multichannel communication platform, LAfricaMobile helps companies, NGOs and institutions connect with audiences across Africa through SMS, USSD, voice, WhatsApp, text-to-speech (TTS) and airtime services. Its solutions enable organisations to communicate even without an internet connection, making digital communication more accessible to communities across the continent. With a mission to bridge the gap between organisations and African communities, regardless of location, language or device, LAfricaMobile is contributing to a more connected and inclusive digital Africa. 🌍 Join us in Cotonou, Benin, from 18–20 November 2026, at the Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hôtel et Spa. Visit the exhibition, discover innovative solutions, meet the organisations building Africa's future and connect with over 1,200 ecosystem leaders from across the continent and beyond. 🎟️ Get your AAG 2026 ticket: bit.ly/AAG2026 #AAG2026 #AfriLabs #LAfricaMobile #ExhibitorSpotlight #AfricanInnovation #DigitalInclusion

🤝 Ecosystem Partner Spotlight: European Union Delegation to the African Union (@EUtoAU) Africa’s innovation future depends on strong partnerships, shared priorities and sustained cooperation across continents. The European Union Delegation to the African Union (EU Delegation to the AU) joins the 11th AfriLabs Annual Gathering (#AAG2026) as an Ecosystem Partner, reflecting the importance of collaboration in advancing Africa’s development and strengthening connections between African and European institutions. Established in 2008, the EU Delegation works to deepen the strategic partnership between the European Union and the African Union through political dialogue, long-term cooperation and institution building. Guided by a shared vision for 2030, the Africa-EU partnership prioritises sustainable development, inclusive economic growth, education, research, digital transformation and opportunities that benefit people across both continents. At AAG 2026, these priorities speak directly to the need for stronger innovation ecosystems, cross-border collaboration and partnerships that enable African innovators and entrepreneurs to create lasting impact. 📍 18–20 November 2026 | Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hôtel et Spa, Cotonou, Benin 🎟️ Be part of the conversations shaping Africa’s innovation future. Secure your AAG 2026 ticket today: bit.ly/AAG2026 #AAG2026 #AfriLabs #EuropeanUnion

Africa can raise billions and still leave its next generation of startups unfunded. That is the contradiction. Capital is flowing into the continent, but much of it follows businesses that have already proved themselves. For the founder still trying to secure that first serious cheque, the financing gap remains very real. So how do we build an investment ecosystem that does not only back winners, but helps create them? At the Investor/Investment Track at #AAG2026, we are putting patient capital, early-stage risk, de-risking mechanisms and financing from inception to scale on the table. Because the next billion-dollar African company may not need another conference about capital. It may need a better pathway to access it. 📖 Read the thinking behind this track: afrilabs.com/africas-startup… 🎟️ Join the Investor/Investment Track in Cotonou: bit.ly/AAG2026 #AfriLabs #AAG2026 #AfricanStartups

Meet Rachad Alao, joining the AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2026 in Cotonou, Benin. Rachad is a technology leader with over 20 years of experience in artificial intelligence, operating systems and embedded systems. He currently serves as Vice President of Engineering at @cohere where he leads the organisation’s North team, focused on developing its Agentic AI platform. Previously, he held senior engineering leadership roles at Meta and Google, contributing to responsible AI development, AI trust and safety, and the growth of Android to over three billion devices. His work has spanned AI fairness, privacy, security and the development of technologies used by millions of people worldwide. Born in Benin and raised in Côte d’Ivoire, Rachad brings a wealth of global technology experience and a personal connection to the region. At AAG 2026, he joins conversations on artificial intelligence, responsible innovation and the technologies shaping Africa’s digital future. 📍 Cotonou, Benin 📅 18–20 November 2026 Join Rachad and other speakers by securing your ticket here: bit.ly/AAG2026 #AAG2026 #AfriLabs #ArtificialIntelligence

Meet @IfeAdebayo, joining the AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2026 in Cotonou, Benin. Ife is a Nigerian innovation policy leader and development finance specialist with over a decade of experience shaping and implementing digital economy programmes across Africa. He currently serves as National Coordinator of the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) Programme at Nigeria’s Bank of Industry, overseeing a $617 million initiative supporting the country’s technology and creative sectors through talent development, access to finance and policy advocacy. Previously, he served as Special Assistant on Innovation to the Vice President of Nigeria, advising on digital technology, innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship policy. During this time, he played a key role in securing the $617 million iDICE investment, co-designed the Nigeria Startup Bill, which became law, and led initiatives including the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme. His experience working with governments, development finance institutions, multilateral partners and global technology companies brings valuable insight into how policy, investment and partnerships can accelerate Africa’s digital economy. At AAG 2026, Ife will join conversations on building sustainable innovation institutions, mobilising investment and creating the conditions for Africa’s innovation ecosystem to grow and compete globally. 📍 Cotonou, Benin 📅 18–20 November 2026 🎟️ Register: bit.ly/AAG2026 #AAG2026 #AfriLabs #AfricanInnovation #DigitalEconomy

🤝 Ecosystem Partner Spotlight: African Education & Innovation Group (AEIG) What does it take to prepare Africa’s next generation for the jobs of the future? For African Education & Innovation Group (AEIG), it starts with education, future-ready skills and an ecosystem that supports innovation. As an Ecosystem Partner for the 11th AfriLabs Annual Gathering, AEIG is working to develop talent and strengthen Africa’s innovation landscape, with an ambition to equip 20,000 young Africans with skills for the future. Through Future Studio, its innovation and strategic support hub, AEIG supports tech startups and entrepreneurial projects across Francophone Africa, from pre-entrepreneurship bootcamps to incubation and acceleration. The initiative also builds bridges between Francophone and Anglophone technology ecosystems, positioning Benin as a growing hub for cross-border collaboration. One example of the innovation emerging from this ecosystem is Locapay, a proptech solution simplifying property search, connecting prospective tenants directly with property managers, and enabling secure rent payments and personalised alerts for tenants and property owners. 📍 Meet AEIG and other ecosystem leaders at the 11th AfriLabs Annual Gathering, taking place 18–20 November 2026 at the Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hôtel et Spa in Cotonou, #Benin. 🎟️ Be part of the conversations shaping Africa’s innovation future. Secure your AAG 2026 ticket today: bit.ly/AAG2026 #AAG2026 #AfriLabs #AEIG #EPITECH

Meet Kazeem Oladepo, joining the AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2026 in Cotonou, Benin. Kazeem oversees end-to-end operations at IHS Nigeria, where he leads strategic functions supporting the deployment, commercialisation, customer service, operation and maintenance of digital infrastructure. His portfolio spans telecommunications towers, fibre optic networks, rural connectivity, IoT and data centres, all contributing to the expansion of digital connectivity across Nigeria. Before joining IHS Nigeria, Kazeem held corporate, commercial, operational and business development responsibilities at MainOne across more than 10 jurisdictions in Anglophone and Francophone West Africa. He also led the commercial portfolio for MainOne Group’s carrier, OTT and CDN businesses and previously served as Director of Corporate Strategy at Starcomms Plc. His experience across digital infrastructure, connectivity and regional markets brings valuable perspectives to conversations about expanding Africa’s digital economy and strengthening the infrastructure that supports innovation. Join Kazeem and other speakers at this year's Annual Gathering! 📍 Cotonou, Benin 📅 18–20 November 2026 🎟️ Register: bit.ly/AAG2026 #AAG2026 #AfriLabs

🌍 African passport? Cotonou is calling! 🇧🇯 Your next big connection could be just a flight away, and getting there is easier than you think. Travelling on a non-African passport? Apply for your Benin e-visa at evisa.bj/ Register now👉 bit.ly/AAG2026

We discovered that the elephants are better off together. When they stand as one, the grass becomes a forest. In 2025, AfriLabs reached 10M+ people across 17 programmes through 528 hubs in 53 countries. Read the full report: afrilabs.com #AfriLabsImpactreport2025

Cotonou connections can start before November. If you are registered for AAG 2026, create your personalised attendee flyer, add your details and photo, and share it with your network. Tag AfriLabs and use #AAG2026. Generate yours: bit.ly/AAG26-FLYER

Africa has no shortage of innovators. But what will it take to build an ecosystem where more ideas get funded, more businesses scale, and more innovations translate into lasting impact? Swipe through to explore the conversations we'll be having, the challenges we'll be tackling.

🧶 Appel à tous les créateurs de mode : Montez sur scène à #AAG2026 🔗 bit.ly/AAG26-FASHION-CALL #AAG2026 #AfriLabs #360CreativeHub

🤝 Partner Spotlight: Welcoming Djembe Consultants to AAG 2026 We are pleased to welcome Djembe Consultants as a partner for the 11th AfriLabs Annual Gathering, taking place from 18–20 November 2026 in Cotonou, Benin. 🎟️ Be part of AAG 2026: bit.ly/AAG2026 #AAG2026

📡 We’re pleased to welcome IHS Towers as a Sponsor of the 11th AfriLabs Annual Gathering (#AAG2026), bringing together the people and partnerships shaping Africa’s innovation ecosystem. 🎟️ Be part of the conversation. bit.ly/AAG2026 #AAG2026 #AfriLabs #IHSTowers