AfriLabs, a pan-African network of 158 technology and innovation centers in 45 African countries has partnered with the African Union Commission to host the 2019 AfriLabs Annual Gathering.
The Annual Gathering brings together tech and innovation hubs within its network to connect and share knowledge with startup entrepreneurs, corporates, investors, academia and developmental agencies to convene, network and share knowledge.
Themed ‘Connect: Towards an Integrated Innovation Ecosystem’ this year’s conference will hold on the 28th – 30th of October 2019 to launch a deeper engagement between the African Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem, AU member states, Economic Communities and other organisations working with the African Union.
“We are calling on other partners and ecosystem stakeholders interested in contributing to the social and economic development of our continent to work with us and our community of innovation hubs across the continent to achieve a successful Annual Gathering 2019 and ultimately our vision for Africa,” said Anna Ekeledo Executive Director, AfriLabs.
The 1 Million by 2021 Initiative, launched by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, aims to remodel Education, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Engagement in Africa and aims to reach at least 1 million youth by 2021 through these key areas.
The two will co-host the AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2019 and other relevant events. Collaborate on deploying digital skills training to African youth by curating training content, deploying through virtual and physical spaces including AfriLabs members hubs and labs.
The 1 Million by 2021 Initiative aims to galvanize political action and commitment from development partners. The initiative targets 1 million young people through direct investments and essential game-changing interventions while also responding to fundamental questions on new approaches to solving existing problems targeted towards African realities. Through coordinated and focused implementation, the overarching goal is that the direct and accumulated impact on the lives of young people should reverberate across the continent.
“We remain grateful to these partners who are as invested as us in ensuring that the potential of youth on the continent is realised by tapping into these areas which recognise the importance of digital skills as an avenue to achieve sustainable economic development,” said H.E Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor, Commissioner of Human Resources, Science and Technology.