The African innovation ecosystem will take center stage at the 4th Annual African Union Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSME) Forum, under the theme “Building Resilient MSMEs through Digital Innovation, Market Access & Affordable Financing for Africa.” The event, hosted by the African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with the Government of Nigeria, will bring together over 300 stakeholders to shape inclusive pathways for entrepreneurship across the continent. 

Among the high-impact sessions during this week-long forum, AfriLabs is set to participate in a critical conversation on “Breaking Down Barriers for Entrepreneurs in Africa: The Role of Technology (Incubation and Acceleration) Hubs.” The session is scheduled for Thursday, June 26th, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM, WAT. 

Representing AfriLabs will be Nanko Madu, Director of Programmes, who brings a wealth of experience on how innovation hubs are supporting Africa’s emerging and growing entrepreneurial talent. The session will convene leading accelerators, incubators, and innovation enablers to unpack the vital role that tech hubs play in nurturing early-stage startups, especially in environments marked by limited funding, fragmented infrastructure, and constrained market access. 

The conversation aims to spotlight how hubs are anchoring Africa’s digital transformation by: 

• Providing startups with access to training, mentorship, and funding opportunities 

• Driving inclusive digital adoption among MSMEs 

• Bridging local entrepreneurs with continental and global markets. 

• Helping startups navigate regulatory hurdles and compliance challenges 

• Promoting inclusive innovation by targeting women- and youth-led businesses. 

AfriLabs, with its network of over 500 hubs in 53 African countries, plays a critical role in enabling this transformation. Through its programs and advocacy, AfriLabs fosters an environment where African startups can scale and thrive. 

Set against the broader backdrop of the African Union’s strategy to empower SMEs, this session complements the forum’s focus on digital tools, intra-African trade, and structural financing. Delegates will engage with actionable strategies to: 

• Mobilize public-private partnerships to fund entrepreneurial infrastructure 

• Align hub efforts with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to promote intra-African commerce 

• Embed environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles in entrepreneurial development 

• Encourage joint policy-making efforts between governments and ecosystem enablers 

• Highlight replicable success stories and data-backed outcomes of incubation and acceleration programs. 

As African economies look to MSMEs as the backbone of job creation and innovation, the forum’s agenda aligns closely with AfriLabs’ mission: to support the development of a knowledge-driven, innovation-led economy across the continent. 

AfriLabs invites ecosystem actors, investors, policymakers, and partners to join this vital session and explore how collaborative models can dismantle persistent barriers for African entrepreneurs. 

Event Details
Date: Thursday, June 26, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM (WAT)
Venue: Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria
Speaker: Nanko Madu, Director of Programmes, AfriLabs 

To learn more about our participation, please contact Shaka Mutuku at shaka@afrilabs.com