African leaders and institutions convened in Accra, Ghana, this week for the inaugural Higher Education Transformation Convening, hosted by the Mastercard Foundation. The event, which also marked the first Africa Higher Education for Transformation (AHEFT) Prize award ceremony, brought together representatives from African higher education institutions, the African Union, government ministries, global financial bodies, industry partners, and young people. The gathering focused on reimagining higher education to advance Africa’s human capital development and economic progress, with a central theme of aligning academic systems with the continent’s evolving workforce needs.
Sewit Ahderom, President and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation, emphasized that transformation requires universities to act as catalysts for broader economic growth. 'A university that makes the whole economy around it work better for young people' must prioritize curricula co-designed with employers, credentials that reflect practical skills, and research that bridges academia and industry, she stated. The convening explored how institutions can become engines of discovery, preparing graduates to lead in emerging technologies while ensuring research translates into tangible societal and economic benefits.
Dr. John Nkengasong, Executive Director of the Mastercard Foundation’s Higher Education and Strategic Initiatives, underscored the economic imperative of higher education reform. 'Higher education transformation is not simply an education agenda—it is an economic imperative,' he said, calling for collaborative efforts among governments, universities, industry, and investors to build systems that empower young Africans. The discussions aligned with the African Union’s Decade of Education and Skills Development (2025–2034), which aims to strengthen education systems and align skills development with Agenda 2063 priorities.
Professor Saidou Madougou, Director of the African Union’s Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, highlighted the need for increased investment in higher education. With Africa’s higher education spending averaging less than 0.8% of GDP and research and development receiving under 0.5% of national budgets, he called for expanded faculty and student mobility, cross-border knowledge sharing, and institutional partnerships to drive systemic change. 'Higher education transformation is a continental project,' he said, stressing the importance of collective action.
The AHEFT Prize, backed by a USD 500 million commitment, recognized five institutions for their transformative initiatives: Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia), the International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (Burkina Faso), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana), Muni University (Uganda), and the University of Rwanda. Each laureate received USD 3 million to scale programs that enhance teaching, research, and student outcomes. Susan Chomba, Chair of the AHEFT Jury, noted that the 2026 winners demonstrated 'ambitious, context-driven approaches' capable of generating broader lessons for the higher education sector.
Applications for the 2027 AHEFT Prize cycle will open later this year, inviting African institutions to submit proposals for sustained transformation. The initiative aims to recognize at least 150 institutions over the next decade, fostering innovation in education and aligning talent development with Africa’s strategic priorities. The Accra discussions reinforced the consensus that no single sector can achieve this transformation alone, urging stakeholders to identify system-level shifts by 2028 to strengthen links between education, employment, and investment.
As the summit concluded, participants reaffirmed the urgency of rethinking higher education as a strategic investment. With Africa’s youth population set to surpass 800 million by 2050, the call to action centers on creating pathways for dignified work, innovation, and leadership. The AHEFT Prize and its associated commitments represent a critical step toward ensuring that higher education serves as a cornerstone for the continent’s sustainable development and global competitiveness.