Conference Programme
The AU Summit 2026
Conference Theme:
Regulatory Harmonisation: Unlocking Africa's Potential in Health Product Manufacturing and Trade
Regulatory Harmonisation: Unlocking Africa's Potential in Health Product Manufacturing and Trade
Monday, February 09, 2026
⏰ 11:30 - 13:00
registration
Registration and Welcome Reception
📍 Conference Room A
Delegates registration, badge collection, and welcome refreshments. Meet fellow participants and network before the official opening.
⏰ 14:00 - 15:30
plenary
Pre-Summit Orientation: Understanding Agenda 2063
👤 Symerre Grey-Johnson, Mc Neil Mhango
📍 Conference Hall A
Comprehensive overview of Agenda 2063 and the Second Ten Year Implementation Plan (STYIP). Essential briefing for all delegates on the summit theme and objectives.
⏰ 16:00 - 17:30
panel_discussion
Youth Leaders Forum: Unlocking Africa's Demographic Dividend
👤 Mc Neil Mhango, Brian, Lindo
📍 Youth Forum Hall
Young leaders from across Africa discuss strategies for harnessing the demographic dividend through education, skills development, and entrepreneurship.
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
⏰ 09:00 - 11:00
opening_ceremony
Opening Ceremony: AU Summit 2026
👤 Symerre Grey-Johnson, Mc Neil Mhango, Mc Neil Mhango
📍 Grand Plenary Hall
Official opening ceremony featuring addresses from AU Chairperson, host country officials, and keynote speakers. Theme presentation and cultural performances.
⏰ 11:30 - 13:00
plenary
Plenary 1: Accelerating Agenda 2063 Implementation
👤 Symerre Grey-Johnson, Mc Neil Mhango, Mc Neil Mhango, Brian
📍 Grand Plenary Hall
High-level plenary on progress, challenges, and strategies for accelerating the implementation of Agenda 2063 across member states.
⏰ 14:30 - 16:00
parallel
Parallel Session: Health & Wellbeing for Women and Youth
👤 Mc Neil Mhango, Lindo, Nthabi
📍 Conference Room 1
Focused discussion on improving healthcare access, maternal health, mental health services, and wellness programs for women and youth across Africa.
⏰ 14:30 - 16:00
parallel
Parallel Session: Education Systems Transformation
👤 Mc Neil Mhango, Brian, Robson
📍 Conference Room 2
Exploring innovative approaches to transform education systems to meet 21st century demands. Focus on curriculum reform, digital learning, and teacher training.
⏰ 16:30 - 18:00
workshop
Workshop: Skills Development for Youth Employment
👤 Lindo, Nthabi
📍 Workshop Hall A
Interactive workshop on designing and implementing effective skills development programs that align with labor market needs and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
⏰ 09:00 - 10:30
plenary
Plenary 2: Entrepreneurship & Job Creation
👤 Symerre Grey-Johnson, Mc Neil Mhango, Lindo, Robson
📍 Grand Plenary Hall
Continental dialogue on fostering entrepreneurship ecosystems, supporting SMEs, and creating sustainable employment opportunities for Africa's youth.
⏰ 11:00 - 12:30
panel_discussion
Panel Discussion: Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship
👤 Mc Neil Mhango, Brian, Nthabi
📍 Conference Hall B
Celebrating and promoting women's leadership in business, politics, and social innovation. Addressing barriers and creating pathways for women entrepreneurs.
⏰ 14:00 - 15:30
side_event
Side Event: AfCFTA and Youth Entrepreneurship
👤 Symerre Grey-Johnson, Brian
📍 Exhibition Hall C
Exploring opportunities for young entrepreneurs within the African Continental Free Trade Area. Market access, cross-border trade, and regional integration.
⏰ 14:00 - 15:30
roundtable_discussion
Roundtable: Digital Skills for the Future of Work
👤 Mc Neil Mhango, Lindo, Robson
📍 Boardroom 1
Expert roundtable on preparing Africa's workforce for the digital economy. Focus on coding, AI literacy, digital marketing, and tech entrepreneurship.
⏰ 16:00 - 17:30
workshop
Workshop: Mental Health and Wellbeing in Education
👤 Mc Neil Mhango, Nthabi
📍 Workshop Hall B
Practical workshop on integrating mental health support in educational institutions. Addressing student stress, anxiety, and creating supportive learning environments.
Thursday, February 12, 2026
⏰ 09:00 - 10:30
plenary
Plenary 3: Financing Education and Skills Development
👤 Symerre Grey-Johnson, Mc Neil Mhango, Brian, Nthabi
📍 Grand Plenary Hall
High-level discussion on innovative financing mechanisms for education, vocational training, and skills development programs across Africa.
⏰ 11:00 - 12:30
parallel
Parallel Session: TVET and Technical Skills Training
👤 Mc Neil Mhango, Lindo, Robson
📍 Conference Room 3
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a pathway to employment. Best practices, industry partnerships, and certification standards.
⏰ 11:00 - 12:30
parallel
Parallel Session: Youth Employment Programs and Policies
👤 Symerre Grey-Johnson, Brian, Nthabi
📍 Conference Room 4
Review of national youth employment programs, policy frameworks, and success stories from across the continent. Lessons learned and scaling strategies.
⏰ 14:00 - 15:30
panel_discussion
Panel Discussion: Public-Private Partnerships in Education
👤 Mc Neil Mhango, Mc Neil Mhango, Lindo
📍 Conference Hall A
Exploring successful models of public-private partnerships in education delivery, infrastructure development, and technology integration.
⏰ 16:00 - 18:00
side_event
Side Event: Innovation Showcase - EdTech Solutions
👤 Brian, Robson
📍 Innovation Hub
Exhibition and demonstrations of innovative educational technology solutions developed by African startups. Interactive sessions with developers and educators.
Friday, February 13, 2026
⏰ 09:00 - 10:30
plenary
Plenary 4: Monitoring Progress - Agenda 2063 Dashboard
👤 Symerre Grey-Johnson, Mc Neil Mhango, Mc Neil Mhango
📍 Grand Plenary Hall
Presentation of the Agenda 2063 monitoring framework and dashboard. Review of key performance indicators and progress across member states.
⏰ 11:00 - 12:30
roundtable_discussion
Roundtable: Regional Integration and Youth Mobility
👤 Brian, Lindo, Nthabi
📍 Boardroom 2
Expert discussion on facilitating youth mobility across Africa for education, employment, and entrepreneurship. Visa policies, recognition of qualifications, and regional cooperation.
⏰ 14:00 - 15:30
workshop
Workshop: Developing National Action Plans
👤 Symerre Grey-Johnson, Mc Neil Mhango, Robson
📍 Workshop Hall A
Practical workshop for member states on developing and implementing national action plans aligned with Agenda 2063 priorities in education, health, and employment.
⏰ 16:00 - 17:30
closing_ceremony
Closing Plenary: Commitments and Way Forward
👤 Symerre Grey-Johnson, Mc Neil Mhango, Mc Neil Mhango, Brian
📍 Grand Plenary Hall
Final plenary session featuring adoption of declarations, commitments from member states, and roadmap for implementation. Closing remarks from AU leadership.