AGP Executive Report

Digital Learning & AI: Morocco launched a “Digital Hub for Sustainable Development” in New York at the UN General Assembly, aiming to use AI in health, education, climate resilience and governance, with a focus on empowering women and youth. University Rankings: Wits claimed the top spot as Africa’s leading university in the latest Center for World University Rankings, pushing UCT to second in Africa. HIV Prevention Access: South African civil society urged President Ramaphosa to push Gilead to speed up access to lenacapavir, warning rollout plans are too small for the scale of the epidemic. STEM Skills Pipeline: ExxonMobil and JA Africa launched STEM Africa 2.0, targeting 4,000 more learners aged 14–17 across Africa with STEM/AI quizzes, innovation camps and a continental showcase. Digital Sovereignty: Zimbabwe’s Shava proposed a five-point plan at eLearning Africa to reduce reliance on foreign platforms by building local data centers, cyber-infrastructure and AI tools in indigenous languages. Education Funding & Governance: South Africa’s NSFAS faces another statutory administration after board collapse and an auditor-general disclaimer, reigniting calls to redesign the scheme’s centralized, multi-layer funding route. School Safety & Crisis Response: Nigeria’s Oyo school abduction protests continued in Abuja, while Sunday Igboho threatened to name politicians he says are backing the kidnappers. Health, Food & Learning: Rice-fish coculturing research in Senegal suggests a win-win approach to cut schistosomiasis while improving farmers’ income.

Ebola Vaccine Push: A fast-moving Ebola situation in the DRC is raising global alarm, with CEPI pledging over A$86m to speed up Bundibugyo vaccine candidates as health teams investigate possible cases beyond Africa. Cybersecurity & Research: South Africa’s CSIR says a breach forced its Lengau supercomputer cluster offline after unauthorised access tied to user credentials, with researchers and universities awaiting restoration. AI Inclusion in Education: A leading South African AI researcher argues Africans must shape AI development so universities and learning systems don’t deepen inequality. Higher Education Equity: Female academics across Africa warn universities still exclude women from leadership and promotion, despite rising enrolment. South Africa–Kenya Education & Skills: Ramaphosa and Ruto sign six MoUs covering education, TVET, sport, culture and migration, aiming to cut barriers and boost cooperation. Nigeria School Abductions Protest: Heavy security tightens around Nigeria’s Presidential Villa as Omoyele Sowore leads renewed pressure to rescue abducted schoolchildren. Ghana Drone Sports: Ghana launches a school-based drone league to train and select athletes for national and international competitions.

Youth Jobs & Education Infrastructure: South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa flagged youth unemployment as a crisis in his Budget Vote, pairing it with a plan to invest R1 trillion over three years in roads, dams, schools, hospitals and clinics—aimed at growth and job creation. Learning Poverty Focus: Nigeria’s Adamawa State is tackling early literacy and numeracy gaps through an EIDU classroom programme that shifts lessons toward active participation, targeting the “learning poverty” problem where many children struggle to read by age 10. School Safety & Justice: Kenya’s court granted investigators 21 days to hold nine students accused in the Utumishi Girls School arson that killed 16, as police say a dorm mattress was set alight and CCTV is central to the probe. Health & School-Age Risk: A new review highlights barriers to rapid fever testing across sub-Saharan Africa, warning that delays and limited diagnostics can push communities toward guesswork treatment and worsen antibiotic misuse. Ebola Watch: Reporting on the spreading Ebola situation in Africa notes ongoing vaccine development and the need for fast, coordinated response as cases are investigated beyond the hardest-hit areas.

School Safety Crisis: Kenya remanded nine students for 21 days after a suspected arson attack at Utumishi Girls School killed 16 learners, with investigators citing a blocked emergency exit and CCTV-linked actions. Policy & Funding Reform: Ghana’s Eduwatch urges District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) changes to better match education deprivation, and calls for higher TVET financing. Early Childhood Access: South Africa’s Children’s Amendment Bill is moving the debate on easing ECD registration barriers so under-resourced centres can comply without being shut out. Digital Education Sovereignty: Zimbabwe’s minister Frederick Shava joins eLearning Africa in Accra to push Africa-led digital learning systems and reduce reliance on foreign platforms. STEM Learning Support: A new Science Resource Centre in Ekurhuleni North lets 46 schools borrow lab equipment and consumables for hands-on experiments. Education, Tech & Climate: A UN University report warns AI data centres already rival major countries’ footprints and could sharply raise water and energy use by 2030. Youth Opportunity: South Africa’s iAccelerate SA opens applications for a 2026 entrepreneurship programme for Grades 9–11 learners.

School Security Protests: Nigeria’s teachers, led by Omoyele Sowore, marched in Abuja demanding stronger protection for schools after bandit attacks, kidnappings and the killing of a principal. Land Rights for Farmers: South Africa moves to release land with title deeds for farmers, aiming to unlock investment and boost rural livelihoods. Rural Livelihoods at Risk: Zimbabwe’s crackdown on e-tricycles is hitting rural women hard as registration and licensing costs soar, threatening transport income. Justice and Access to Courts: An Afrobarometer survey finds many Africans believe courts treat people unequally and that cost and delays block ordinary people from justice. Health and Learning: WHO warns nicotine and tobacco firms are targeting young people with new products and marketing tactics. Innovation and IP: Nigeria launched the first WIPO Sub-Saharan Africa office in Abuja to strengthen the innovation ecosystem and intellectual property use. Education Equity: A report highlights period poverty across Kenya, where girls cut mattress or blanket pieces into pads to stay in school. University Spotlight: Wits University is ranked top in Africa in global university rankings, reinforcing higher-education momentum.

Trade & Industry: China’s new zero-tariff access for all 53 African countries with diplomatic ties is being pitched as a boost for Zimbabwean manufacturers, especially women-led firms, as Zimbabwe Women in Manufacturing (ZWIM) launches. Education Funding Integrity: South Africa’s Free State Premier welcomed Special Investigating Unit (SIU) findings into bursary irregularities, saying disciplinary action will follow after millions were linked to ineligible recipients and weak oversight. School Safety: Western Cape’s Eden and Central Karoo districts will close all public schools for two days due to a severe weather warning. Digital Learning Access: A South African app, SoinsAvec, is helping people with speech and language impairments communicate through recorded speech that’s edited into clean text. Connectivity for Learning: Telkom says it added 160,000+ homes to its fibre network, supporting online education and remote work. Health & Climate Data: South Africa launched its first national climate-and-health surveillance platform to track climate impacts on vulnerable groups. Ebola Response: WHO reports Ebola cases in DR Congo at 321 confirmed with 116 suspected, while vaccine development efforts continue. Youth & Governance: Kenya’s Timiza Youth Initiative is mobilising youth and women for civic engagement and a green transition in Kilifi.

HIV, pregnancy and violence response: Zimbabwe’s Education Minister Torerai Moyo says HIV infections, early/unintended pregnancies, gender-based violence and substance abuse among learners must be declared a national crisis, with a push to keep children in school. Curriculum overhaul: Zimbabwe is reforming its heritage-based curriculum to build skills, innovation and global competitiveness, aligning learning with Vision 2030. Ebola pressure on schools and health systems: The DRC Ebola outbreak may be “far worse” than official figures, with delayed detection and weak contact tracing; Africa CDC and DRC leaders stress containment and safer living conditions. Anti-LGBTQ law sparks quorum concerns: Ghana’s Parliament passed an expansive anti-LGBTQ bill with prison terms, but critics say it was passed without quorum. Labour enforcement: South Africa’s employment ministry plans tougher labour law enforcement, including action against exploitative employers and more inspectors. Skills vs theory: Anis Haffar urges TVET-focused education and practical skills training as the route to national development. AI in classrooms and media: Southern African newsrooms are using AI for transcription and drafting, but editors stress human judgment and ethics. Student safety and insecurity: Nigeria’s Oyo State kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers draws renewed calls for urgent action to protect learners.

Consumer Protection Push (Ghana): Dr Chris Kpodar urged manufacturers and regulators to back CDA CONSULT’s “Verify Before You Buy” campaign to curb counterfeit and unsafe goods, calling for shared accountability across the value chain. Korea–Africa Cooperation: Foreign ministers from Korea and 50 African countries agreed in Seoul to deepen economic and strategic ties, including supply chains, critical minerals, and support for AfCFTA. Ebola Vaccine Race (Africa): CEPI will fund Moderna’s early testing of an mRNA Ebola vaccine candidate targeting Bundibugyo ebolavirus, as outbreaks continue to spread. School Safety Crisis (Nigeria): Omoyele Sowore announced a June 4 nationwide school walkout and protest over abducted pupils and teachers, demanding rescue and accountability. Child Protection (South Africa): Parliament’s National Child Protection Week push highlights high rates of child sexual violence and the role of social media in grooming. Menstrual Health (South Africa): Touch Roots Africa marked Menstrual Hygiene Day at Berea High School, training learners and tackling stigma. Tobacco Use in Schools (South Africa): Cape Town reported 21.5% tobacco use among learners in grades 8–11 and urged youth-focused quitting support. Youth & Learning Spotlight: A Katlehong Grade 11 learner earned a Japan trip after top Maths and Physical Sciences results.

Matric Crisis in South Africa: New Stats SA data shows nearly half of adults (47.1%) still lack a matric qualification, with only small gains over two decades and limited university participation. Nigeria Education Underfunding: Policy advocate Chidoka warns Nigeria spends just 2.14% of GDP on education in 2026, far below UNESCO benchmarks, calling it a national emergency. School Security in Nigeria: A presidential delegation visited Oyo State after the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire, with rescue efforts and calls for stronger local security. Ebola Response Strained by Aid Cuts: Reporting from the DRC and Uganda highlights how misinformation and reduced funding are weakening frontline screening, training, and community preparedness. Digital Learning Growth: CNN’s Marketplace Africa spotlights uLesson Group’s expansion of online learning across West Africa and its “success advisor” support model. Smart Industry Links Ghana and Korea: Vilacesti’s Ghana smart industrial park plans AI, research, and education partnerships to attract Korean firms and build local supply chains. Sport as Skills Pathway: Qatar Foundation and the Basketball Africa League push sport-for-development that turns talent into education and opportunity. Kenya School Fire Aftermath: Authorities continue investigations after a deadly dorm fire at a girls’ school, with dozens injured and families awaiting identification.

Agro-industrial push for jobs: A new analysis argues Africa must avoid “premature deindustrialisation” by anchoring industrial growth in agro-processing, not skipping straight from farming to low-productivity informal services. Ebola readiness at airports: Lagos has intensified Ebola surveillance at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, urging tighter passenger separation from high-risk arrivals as Central and East Africa outbreaks continue. Ebola recovery update: WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus says several patients have recovered, including the first documented recovery of a confirmed Bundibugyo patient in the current outbreak. Agroforestry education mobility: Kenya’s JKUAT is coordinating an intra-Africa project to train MSc/PhD students and staff in agroforestry research and climate mitigation, with partners across East, West and Southern Africa. Menstrual health drive: Zimbabwe’s Africa Women Summit campaign is distributing sanitary pads and tackling period stigma while also promoting child protection in schools. Law education upgrade (Ghana): Central University has launched a Law School Advisory Board to strengthen mentorship and professional links for legal training. Youth and startups grants (Nigeria): BAHGIA’s Lagos summit will offer development grants, mentorship and seed support for young innovators and entrepreneurs. Child safety message (South Africa): Experts stress teaching children to use their voice early for safeguarding and boundary-setting. School fire (Kenya): Reports say a dormitory fire at a girls’ school killed at least 16 students, with investigations pointing to arson suspicions and arrests. Italian language in Accra: An Italian language school is set to open in Ghana before end-2026, starting from kindergarten and early primary. Education finance debate (global): A UNESCO report warns higher education expansion is outpacing equity and financing, shifting the focus to who pays and who benefits.

Ebola Response: WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus visited Bunia in the DRC, updating partners as confirmed Ebola cases and deaths rise, while Kenya’s court temporarily blocked a planned US-run Ebola quarantine facility. School Safety Crisis: Kenyan police arrested eight girls over a suspected arson attack on a girls’ boarding school dormitory in Gilgil that killed 16 and injured dozens; authorities say safety failures, including a locked exit and overcrowding, are under scrutiny. Child Protection: South Africa marks Child Protection Week with community walks and campaigns urging protection of children from abuse, neglect and violence. Higher Education Funding: South Africa’s Higher Education Minister defended dissolving the NSFAS board, citing legal compliance issues with board composition. Skills and Jobs: Ghana’s TVET financing is failing to match employer needs, leaving many youth stuck outside work and training, according to Africa Education Watch. Digital Learning Boost: Nigeria’s Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation donated an AI and tech centre to Holy Ghost College, with solar power and Starlink to expand digital education. Cultural Exchange in Schools: Zimbabwe celebrated International Children’s Day with Chinese Embassy activities, linking culture and learning through music, arts and exchanges. Entrepreneurship Debate: South Africa’s viral “R370 graduate” story reignited arguments over whether entrepreneurship advice helps or unfairly blames individuals for structural unemployment.

Kenya School Fire Investigation: Eight students have been arrested over a deadly fire at Utumishi Girls Senior Secondary School in Gilgil that killed 16 learners and injured nearly 80; investigators say they reviewed interviews and CCTV as they reconstruct the suspected arson attack. Higher Education Finance Crisis: South Africa’s debt problem is blocking access to credentials, with Parliament hearing that 165,000 (and possibly 188,209) student certificates are withheld over unpaid fees, trapping graduates in unemployment and debt. Namibia Education Reform Debate: Namibia’s Redefining Education Summit warned universities may be feeding unemployment, urging more TVET and skills-based pathways alongside degrees. Zimbabwe Child Protection Push: Zimbabwe’s deputy education minister Dr Angeline Gata called for stronger child protection alongside schooling, warning education alone can’t stop abuse, exploitation, violence and child marriage. Tanzania Skills-to-Work Partnerships: UNDP Tanzania signed MoUs with nine higher learning institutions to boost graduate employability through practical skills, innovation and career readiness. Ghana Anti-LGBTQ Law: Ghana’s Parliament approved the “Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill,” now awaiting President Mahama’s assent, with prison terms for same-sex relationships and related support. Ebola Alert: WHO has declared the Central Africa Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern as cases and suspected deaths rise, while legal action in Kenya pauses a quarantine plan for exposed Americans. South Africa Teacher Training Abroad: Stadio’s School of Education is expanding international teaching practice partnerships (Norway, Canada, US) to build multicultural, future-ready early childhood educators. Nigeria Education/Health Commissioning: President Tinubu commissioned new health facilities and TETFund-funded education projects across multiple states, including tertiary infrastructure and education support.

Ebola Alert: A rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain is spreading across the DRC and Uganda, prompting WHO to declare a public health emergency as experts warn official figures may be undercounted and no approved vaccines or medicines exist. Kenya School Safety: Police arrested eight female students over a suspected arson attack at Utumishi Girls School in Gilgil, where a dormitory fire killed 16 and injured 79; investigations cite locked exits and safety failures. Digital Learning Push (Ghana): RevoLabs’ diaspora-led initiative gave 200+ students in underserved schools hands-on AI and digital skills via laptop donations, with handovers timed to AU Day. Education Policy (Ghana): Africa Education Watch calls for more TVET funding and more facilitators at USTED in Kumasi, warning overcrowding and under-resourcing are undermining skills training. Maths & Language (South Africa): Researchers urge Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education, arguing multilingual “meaning-making” helps learners grasp maths logic instead of switching abruptly to English. TVET & Jobs (Zimbabwe): Zimbabwe will host Africa Skills Week (Oct 12–16, 2026) to tackle skills gaps and youth unemployment. E-learning Africa 2026 (Ghana): Accra will host eLearning Africa 2026 (June 3–5), bringing ministers and policymakers from 30+ countries to debate AI readiness and digital learning financing. Funding Relief (KZN): South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal education sector received a R2bn cash flow advance to ease unpaid allocations and budget pressures.

Kenya School Safety Crisis: A dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls School in Gilgil, central Kenya, has killed at least 16 students and injured dozens, as police investigate whether fire-safety rules were followed. Uganda Education & Health Partnerships: Aga Khan V begins a two-day official visit to Uganda focused on strengthening ties in healthcare, education, and regional development, including plans to launch Aga Khan University and commission a new hospital. Ghana AI in Education: Ghana’s National AI Strategy and an upcoming Pan-African AI summit in Accra put ethical AI, data governance, and skills at the center of higher education and youth employment planning. Higher Education Tools: Nigeria’s University of Abuja prepares to launch “Thesis-Speedwrite,” an AI-powered research writing ecosystem aimed at improving thesis and dissertation workflows while protecting academic discipline. South Africa Xenophobia & School Impact: Coverage highlights how anti-immigrant violence and protests are spilling into public life, with calls for unity and accountability as Ghana repatriates citizens from South Africa. Madagascar Sports Leadership: Madagascar appoints Mickael Pivaud as national men’s basketball coach ahead of 2027 World Cup qualifiers, with a focus on reviving team performance.

School Safety & Insecurity (Nigeria): Atiku Abubakar again demanded action over mass school abductions, citing May attacks in Borno and Oyo that reportedly involved dozens of children and teachers, including a teacher beheading, and warning the crisis is undermining Nigeria’s education system. School Fire Tragedy (Kenya): A dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls School in Gilgil, Nakuru County, killed at least 16 students and injured 79; officials say investigations will check whether fire-safety rules were followed. Ebola Response (DRC): WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus urged a ceasefire and asked communities to share what they know about Ebola as Congo scales up diagnostics amid conflict, misinformation and distrust. Education Exchange (Mozambique): Mozambique hosted the Chinese Bridge finals at Eduardo Mondlane University, with winners set for global competition in China. Agriculture & Food Security (South Africa): South Africa is forecast to harvest a record 17.064 million tons of maize, easing pressure on food prices and livestock feed costs. Learning & Wellbeing (South Africa): Virgin Active South Africa and CambriLearn launched a national partnership giving online-school families access to club facilities for in-person activity and peer community. STEM & Data for Health (Africa): Women’s modelling and analytics summer school in Nairobi trained researchers to use data-driven approaches for health decisions and policy action.

Malaria Surge in Zimbabwe: US aid cuts have disrupted malaria control programmes, driving a deadly spike in cases and deaths as families return to school after treatment. Public Policy & Learning: Harvard’s new course uses Beyoncé to unpack how promises in public services fail marginalized communities—an angle that resonates with education and equity debates. South Africa Health Innovation: UCT’s Biomedical Engineering Research Centre secured a SAHPRA licence to manufacture and distribute locally designed medical devices, aiming to cut reliance on imports. Digital Governance: South Africa’s Home Affairs plans a real-time biometric system to identify “ghost workers,” targeting payroll fraud ahead of a June rollout. Youth & Elections: South African commentary warns that “get up, show up” isn’t enough when young voters face unemployment and broken delivery. Africa Day Community Building: Ubuntu Connekt hosts an Africa Day dialogue on May 29 focused on inclusion, workforce development and opportunity. Ebola Response Pressure: Kenya faces anger over a US plan for Ebola quarantine sites, while the outbreak spreads across parts of Central Africa. Skills for Work: Project management leaders urge young Africans to build practical project skills alongside degrees as university capacity lags demand.