LEAP Africa, a non-governmental organization, has reaffirmed Africa’s growing reputation as an emerging centre of global innovation.
The Executive Director of LEAP Africa, Ms. Kehinde Ayeni, made the remark at the 12th edition of the organizations Social Innovators Programme and Awards (SIPA) held in Lagos.
The event had the theme: “Africa as The Sector: Maximizing Possibilities through Technology, Finance and Policy.”
Ayeni, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said LEAP Africa remained committed to youth-led transformation across the continent, noting that young Africans were redefining problem-solving through innovation.
“This event brought together innovators, policymakers, financiers and development partners committed to advancing the continent’s innovation ecosystem,” she said.
According to her, the gathering underscores Africa’s shift from being viewed as an emerging market to becoming a vibrant sector of creativity, investment and transformative ideas driven by technology-enabled young people.
The Board Chair of LEAP Africa and Managing Director of JNC International, Mrs. Claire Omatseye, said collaboration had become the central driver of innovation, adding that Africa’s time to lead global transformation had arrived.
“For more than a decade, SIPA has strengthened Africa’s innovation pipeline by supporting young change makers and showcasing scalable solutions,” she said.
“The 2025 edition reaffirms Africa’s role not just as a participant in global innovation but as a key driver shaping the world’s future.”
The event featured panel discussions, solution labs, speed talks and award presentations to outstanding social innovators. Speakers included senior representatives from venture philanthropy, entrepreneurship, climate action, policy and development sectors across Africa.
Discussions highlighted the need for targeted investment, policy alignment and strengthened innovation infrastructure to sustain the continent’s growth.
Participants also took part in specialized solution labs, including the NYFF Hackathon; a UNDP-led session on creative expressions for inclusive development; and a roundtable for enterprise support organizations examining the role of policy, technology and finance in accelerating innovation.
The first panel session, “From Village to Virtual,” explored strategies to close Africa’s digital divide through smart policy and investment.
The second session, “Seeds & Servers,” stressed that the continent’s long-term prosperity depends on combining innovation, investment and bold reforms.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of SIPA Awards. Abdulateef Olaosebikan of Nafarm Foods won the Social Impact Award, while Samuel Folorunsho of Legis 360 emerged as Outstanding Innovator. The winners were selected from over 70 nominees.
LEAP Africa is a youth-focused leadership development organization working across education, entrepreneurship, employability, citizenship and wellbeing. The organization has reached more than one million beneficiaries across 26 states and 48 African countries and continues to promote ethical, innovative youth leadership.
