Summit addresses Africa’s youth employment challenge

More than 150 students, faculty, industry leaders, startup executives, investors, and policymakers from Africa and the United States recently gathered to address Africa’s youth employment challenge at the Pathways to Opportunities Summit. The summit, hosted by the Innovation Hub at Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa) is an initiative of CMU-Africa’s Center for Inclusive Digital Transformation of Africa, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.

“What set the summit apart was the quality and range of people in the room, including faculty and researchers from universities, industry leaders, government voices, entrepreneurs and students who have experienced different paths. That mix is rare, and it matters,” said Muhammad Aliyu (MSIT ’25) panel moderator and founding president of Africa Innovators Society, CMU-Africa’s entrepreneurship club.

Nine universities participated in the event, including CMU-Africa, the University of Rwanda, and the Arab Academy for Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Center, among others.

“The event focused on equipping young people with knowledge and understanding to design and navigate multiple pathways to opportunities over time,” explained Stanley Mukasa, associate director of entrepreneurship at CMU-Africa. “It is important to bring together academia, industry, and policymakers for conversations about youth employment because collaboration is key to strengthening innovation and creating jobs on the continent.”

Throughout the three-day event, attendees actively engaged in panel discussions, hands-on workshops, and forums. The summit also included a hackathon themed Global Challenge Competition, which started two weeks before the summit, allowing students to work in teams to tackle global issues.

“The Global Challenge engaged students, giving them the opportunity to showcase their knowledge of entrepreneurship,” said Patricia Musiime, program manager for the TechSkills Marketplace Program at CMU-Africa. “Teams were able to bring solutions to life in an interactive, competitive, and exciting environment.”

First place in the Global Challenge: Climate Resilience for Risk Reduction, Stability and Inclusive Growth Challenge

• Alia Teto, CMU-Africa
• Zakaria Chadli, Al Akhawayn University
• Brian Kinyanjul, University of Nairobi
• Zanele Dira, University of Witwatersrand
• Oyebode Rita Olamide, University of Lagos

First runner-up in the Global Challenge: Energy Systems for the Productivity, Growth, and Inclusion Challenge

• Parise Olueaferanmi YOMI-ADEBISI, University of Lagos
• Navhani Tshikosi, University of Witwatersrand
• Nada Bennani, Al Akhawayn University
• Edson Antonio, Agostino Neto University
• Danielle Wijenje, University of Nairobi

All teams will receive follow-up support from the Innovation Hub over the next 12 months to ensure that team solutions can be nurtured and developed into commercially viable solutions.

The summit’s partners included GIZ, IBM Research Center, International Labour Organization, Rwanda’s Ministry of Education, Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT and Innovation, SmartAfrica, RwandAIR, Rwanda ICT Chamber, and World Bank.

It was a stimulating and impactful three days, conducted with high energy and in a spirit of genuine partnership.

Keith Straughan, Professor of Global Entrepreneurship and Digital Technology Innovation, CMU-Africa

“It was a stimulating and impactful three days, conducted with high energy and in a spirit of genuine partnership.” said Keith Straughan, CMU-Africa professor of global entrepreneurship and digital technology innovation. “The true impact of the summit will be witnessed in the many initiatives which began their life here.”

Check out the Flickr photos from the Pathways to Opportunities Summit.