Leaders from higher education institutions, government ministries, the African Union, and the private sector gathered in Accra for the inaugural Higher Education Transformation Convening, hosted by the Mastercard Foundation.
The high-profile gathering also featured the first-ever presentation of the Africa Higher Education for Transformation (AHEFT) Prize. Backed by a historic USD 500 million commitment, the prize is designed to recognize at least 150 institutions across Africa over the next decade. Each of the inaugural 2026 laureates received a USD 3 million award to scale transformative initiatives that expand educational opportunities and workforce readiness.
The five universities honored for their institution-wide change are Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia), The International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE) (Burkina Faso), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) (Ghana), Muni University (Uganda), and The University of Rwanda.
Under the overarching theme, “Reimagining Higher Education for Africa’s Human Capital Development,” participants emphasized that educational reform is no longer just an academic goal, but a critical economic imperative. Sewit Ahderom, President and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation, stressed that true transformation creates universities that directly strengthen local economies for young people. She underscored four foundational pillars: employer-built curricula, portable practical credentials, technology leadership where students shape emerging tech, and impactful research that flows into industry and communities.
Dr. John Nkengasong, Executive Director of Higher Education and Strategic Initiatives at the Foundation, noted that Africa’s growing youth population presents an unprecedented global opportunity. Realizing this potential requires strong partnerships among governments, universities, investors, and industry to build thriving pathways to dignified and fulfilling work.
The discussions directly supported the African Union’s Decade of Education and Skills Development (2025–2034). Professor Saidou Madougou of the African Union pointed out that while higher education spending and research budgets remain critically low across many nations, continental collaboration and increased investment are vital for success.
Susan Chomba, Chair of the AHEFT Jury, commended the winning institutions for offering practical, context-driven blueprints that the wider higher education ecosystem can learn from and build upon. Applications for the 2027 AHEFT Prize cycle are set to open later this year, as educational leaders push to turn continental consensus into scalable action by 2028.
