It is no longer a quiet whisper. The world’s eyes are on Africa, not with charity, but with respect, recognition, and an increasing sense of urgency. From tech startups in Lagos to fashion weeks in Accra, policy powerhouses in Kigali to music trailblazers in Johannesburg, Africa has risen and has caught the attention of the world.
Africa is home to over 1.5 billion people,1 70% of whom are under the age of 30.2 By 2050, one in four people globally will be of African descent.3 This is not only a demographic fact, but also a global game changer. Many future leaders, scientists, entrepreneurs, educators, and artists are African. What they need are the right tools, and education is key to helping them reach their potential. Yet, 46 million school aged children across Eastern and Southern Africa were out of school in 2023, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change.4
Gone are the days when Africa was reduced to the footnotes of global conversations. The world’s most exciting and evolving tech hubs, such as Nairobi’s “Silicon Savannah” and Nigeria’s “Yabacon Valley”, are developing solutions that rival and often outpace Western innovations. African artists, thought-leaders, athletes and CEOs are not anomalies; they are evidence of a continent stepping fully into its power. Names like Elon Musk (South Africa), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria), and Mo Farah (Somalia) remind us that global influence often has African roots.
Education at the Heart of Africa’s Transformation
Economically, some of the fastest-growing economies in the world are in Africa such as Niger and Senegal.5 Global investment is rising, infrastructure is expanding, and the middle class is growing. 5G adoption is accelerating in Sub-Saharan Africa and is forecast to contribute $10 billion to the region’s economy by 2030, creating new opportunities for digital learning.6 But with all this growth comes a fundamental need for strong, modern, and inclusive education systems that can keep pace with the continent’s ambition.
Investing in Africa’s education today is not just about philanthropy, it is foresight and vision, and determines whether the youthful population becomes a global powerhouse or a missed opportunity.
Increasingly Africans themselves are leading this charge, demanding better access, higher quality and more inclusive education systems and delivering results. What is needed now is a coordinated effort to scale these successes and ensure no community is left behind.
Education Africa was founded and modeled on the success of Education UAE and Education Saudi, this initiative aims to connect, inform, and empower the entire education ecosystem; from parents and teachers to students, school leaders, and policymakers. Education Africa is a media-led movement with real-world impact. It is not about rankings, bias, or exclusivity, it is about access, equity, and celebrating the diversity of education across the continent.
African families will have a neutral, transparent resource to navigate educational choices, learn about school developments, connect with community voices, and engage with expert-led content that truly reflects African realities. This initiative will serve as a trusted hub for what is happening in African education; a space that has been missing for too long.
The WILD Foundation will focus on investing in girls’ schools, sanitation access, and localised, community-led education solutions. These issues are core to creating real impact. Supporting girls’ education is a proven multiplier, when girls go to school, economies grow, communities stabilise, and generational cycles of poverty are broken. It is important to take action now because the opportunity window is open.
A New Era of African Ambition
There is a mindshift underway across Africa. Today’s youth are globally connected and unapologetically ambitious. They are building businesses, challenging narratives, launching nonprofits, and stepping onto global stages. What they need is a system that keeps up with them, one that does not just teach but unleashes.
Education Africa is stepping in to spotlight the success stories, empower decision-makers and ensure that Africa’s next chapter is written by the Africans themselves.
I am deeply honoured to be part of Education Africa’s inaugural Advisory Board. Not because it is a “trending” initiative, but because I truly believe Africa is the future. I’ve seen the talent and hunger to do well first hand, the brilliance and dignity across its cities and rural areas alike. I have witnessed and been part of what happens when young people are given the space to dream and the education to realise those dreams.
It is time we turned our collective energy toward the places where growth is not just possible but is inevitable. And that all starts in the classroom.
Partner with Education Africa
Education Africa welcomes educators, innovators, and families across the continent to share stories, ideas, and local successes that can inspire the next generation.
