AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2026

1. 08:3011:35 Main Stage 2 rooms · 17 items Also: Reflect & Refuel

   Main Stage

   • 08:3009:00
     Arrival, Networking & Exhibition

     -

   • 09:0009:05
     MC Energizer

     Audience engagement

   • 09:0509:10
     Welcome Address

     Western Africa regional AfriLabs Board representative

   • 09:1009:15
     Benin Tourism
   • 09:1509:20
     Special Address
   • 09:2009:25
     Goodwill messages UN Women Regional Director West and Central Africa)
   • 09:2509:35
     Keynote: Africa's Innovation Era - From Local Solutions to Global Influence

     Day 2 keynote

   • 09:3509:40
     Inspirational speech (AI Innovator "Calisto")
   • 09:4010:00
     Fishbowl conversation (All track champions)

     -

   • 10:0010:20
     Hub Showcase
   • 10:2010:30
     AfriLabs: The Future

     AfriLabs initiatives, products and future direction

   • 10:3010:55
     Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue - Africa's Innovation Era: Building the Foundations for Africa's Next Growth Era
   • 10:5511:05
     Partner Spotlight - ITC/AfriLabs

     Presentation on Joint Tech Hubs in Africa Survey

   • 11:0511:15
     Rev-Up Women Showcase

     Programme Highlight

   • 11:1511:25
     AI Bridge Showcase

     Programme Highlight

   • 11:2511:30
     Reflect & Refuel

     Recap + introduction of Day 2 tracks

   Main Hall / Exhibition Area

   • 11:0011:35
     Reflect & Refuel

     Recap of the morning programme and introduction to the Day 2 tracks, followed by networking and refreshments

2. 11:3018:05 3 tracks at the same time 5 rooms · 53 items Makerspaces · Green and Blue Economy · Investor / Investment · also 11 more

   Main Stage

   • 11:3012:00
     Tea Break / Networking / Exhibition

     -

   Green and Blue Economy · Track Room 2

   • 11:3012:00
     Networking Tea Break

     Networking Tea Break

   Investor / Investment · Track Room 3

   • 11:3012:00
     Networking Tea Break

     Networking Tea Break

   Makerspaces · Track Room 1

   • 11:3514:00
     Track Programmes — Segment 1: Makerspaces
   • 11:4512:00
     Makerspaces Africa community video playlist (quiet playback with subtitles)

     Arrival Videos

   • 12:0012:05
     Welcome, overview of the track and highlights; invitation to visit the exhibition stand; recognition of sponsors and AfriLabs

     Track Opening & Welcome

   • 12:0512:20
     Made in Africa - The Future of Manufacturing, Hardware and Deep Tech; stories from the InnovateNaija and Future Makers challenges

     Keynote / Executive Dialogue

   • 12:2013:00
     What is a makerspace? Welcome to Benin! Introduction to makerspaces in Benin and their activities

     Makerspace Showcase

   • 13:0013:15
     Introducing Makerspaces Africa: purpose, activities, community and future agenda

     Network Introduction

   • 13:1513:30
     Launching the African Maker Magazine 2026 Edition: stories in health, agriculture, education, circularity and more

     Publication Launch

   Green and Blue Economy · Track Room 2

   • 11:3514:00
     Track Programmes — Segment 1: Green & Blue Economy
   • 12:0012:05
     Setting the Stage

     Track Opening & Welcome

   • 12:0512:15
     Africa's Green and Blue Advantage: Transforming Natural Capital into Global Economic Leadership

     Keynote Address

   • 12:1512:45
     From Resources to Value: Can Africa Build the Industries of the Green and Blue Economy?

     Executive Dialogue

   • 12:4513:20
     From Green Potential to Green Businesses: The Role of Ecosystem Builders in Scaling Women-led Green Enterprises

     IYBA WE4A Green Entrepreneurship Delegation by GIZ

   • 13:2013:30
     The Green Opportunity in One Minute

     Rapid Reflections

   • 13:3015:00
     Group photo before the session breaks

     Lunch Break (Gathering-wide)

   • 15:0015:30
     Green and Blue Growth for Everyone: Creating Inclusive Opportunities for Women, Youth & Underserved Communities

     Gender & Inclusion Session

   • 15:3016:30
     Track Programmes — Segment 2

     Continuation and deep-dive sessions

   • 15:3015:45
     CCS and Natural Hydrogen in Africa: Community Needs and Opportunities for Cooperation

     Presentation

   • 15:4516:25
     OceanHub Workshop

     OceanHub Session

   • 16:2516:35
     From Nature to Global Power: Africa's Green and Blue Wealth Story

     Storytelling Session

   • 16:3517:00
     From Innovation to Impact: The EMERGE Roadmap for Africa's Energy Transition

     AfriLabs Programmes team

   • 17:0017:05
     Closing Remarks & Group Photo

     Closing Remarks & Group Photo

   Investor / Investment · Track Room 3

   • 11:3514:00
     Track Programmes — Segment 1: Investor / Investment
   • 12:0012:05
     Setting the Investment Agenda for Africa's Innovation Era

     Track Opening & Welcome

   • 12:0512:20
     From Capital to Scale: Connecting Investment, Businesses and Ecosystem Builders for Africa’s Growth

     Keynote Address/Fireside Chat

   • 12:1512:55
     Financing Africa's digital future

     DBSA Panel

   • 12:5513:30
     Where Is the Capital? Understanding Investment Opportunities in African Innovation

     Investment Conversation

   • 13:3015:00
     Group photo before the session breaks

     Lunch Break (Gathering-wide)

   • 15:0015:40
     The Missing Layer: What It Takes to Make African Health Innovation Investable

     Health Investment

   • 15:3016:30
     Track Programmes — Segment 2

     Continuation and deep-dive sessions

   • 15:4016:20
     What Are Investors Looking For?

     Investor Reverse Pitch

   • 16:2016:40
     Who Gets Funded? Unlocking Africa’s Institutional Capital for Inclusive Innovation

     Capital Quickfire

   • 16:4017:00
     Beyond Venture Capital: Alternative Financing Models for African Innovation

     ACDR Session

   • 17:0017:10
     Key Takeaways and Group Photo

     Closing

   Main Stage

   • 13:3015:00
     Lunch Break

     Lunch, exhibition and networking

   Makerspaces · Track Room 1

   • 13:3014:45
     Lunch break

     Lunch Break (Gathering-wide)

   Dining / Exhibition Area

   • 14:0015:30
     Lunch, Exhibition & Networking

     Lunch, exhibition viewing and informal networking

   Makerspaces · Track Room 1

   • 14:4515:00
     Makerspaces Africa community video playlist (quiet playback with subtitles)

     Arrival Videos

   • 15:0015:30
     Makerspaces & Innovation: local cascaded commercialisation with grassroots makers; Benin's Digital Innovation Week learnings; UNDP Timbuktoo's Africa-wide UniPod network

     Panel Discussion

   • 15:3016:30
     Track Programmes — Segment 2

     Continuation and deep-dive sessions

   • 15:3016:00
     Makerspaces & the Metropolis - Welcome to Africa's Fab Cities: experiences from Tanga, Kumasi, Accra, Cape Town and Ekurhuleni

     Panel Discussion

   • 16:0016:30
     Makerspaces & Education - Success Stories: learning by doing, prototyping, skills and training across school, university and workplace settings

     Panel Discussion

   • 16:3016:40
     Makerspace Impact Indicators and Common Policy Agenda

     Presentation / Discussion

   • 16:4016:50
     "Recognising Green Skills" project using open, digital badges

     Project Presentation

   • 16:5017:00
     Fab28 Kigali - the global maker movement is coming to Africa; announcements on Friday's ecosystem tours, UniPod Benin hackathon and Makerspaces Africa biennial gathering

     Announcement

   • 17:0017:05
     Group photo (all to front)

     Closing / Group Photo

   Main Stage

   • 15:3017:15
     Partner / Stakeholder Sessions

     Selected partner-led sessions

   • 17:1517:20
     MC Energizer

     Transition to closing programme

   • 17:2017:35
     AAG 2026: The Impact We Are Building / Call to action

     Highlights, commitments and outcomes

   • 17:3517:55
     AfriLabs Board Meet & Greet

     Leadership, leverage and legacy

   • 17:5518:05
     Event Curtain Call / Closing

     Official close of AAG 2026

3. • 19:3021:00
     Parallel Dinners (Closed door - Invite only)Main Stage

     Partner Events

No session or speaker matches that.