AfriLabs has launched a leadership transition process to appoint its next executive director, as the organisation positions itself for a new phase of expansion and influence across Africa’s innovation ecosystem.
The pan-African network said the search is aimed at identifying a leader who can build on its recent momentum while shaping its strategic direction and global relevance over the coming decade. AfriLabs describes the transition as a balance of continuity and renewal, reflecting both the scale of what has been achieved and the ambition of its next chapter.
Founded to support and connect innovation hubs across the continent, AfriLabs has grown into the largest network of its kind in Africa. Under the outgoing executive director, Anna Ekeledo, the organisation expanded from just over 40 hubs to more than 520 across 53 countries, significantly broadening its reach and influence. During that period, AfriLabs also articulated a long-term “moonshot” vision aimed at unlocking up to one trillion dollars in economic value for Africa through innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology-driven growth.
In a statement announcing the transition, the organisation said the next executive director will play a central role in strengthening AfriLabs’ continental relevance while deepening its engagement with global partners. “This transition represents both continuity and renewal,” the organisation said, adding that it presents an opportunity to honour existing foundations while positioning Africa’s innovation ecosystems for more ambitious outcomes.
The leadership search is being overseen by a Transition Committee working in close coordination with the AfriLabs Board. The organisation said the process is anchored on its governance framework and core values, including integrity, collaboration, inclusiveness, and shared ownership. AfriLabs emphasized that its community-driven structure will remain central to decision-making during and after the transition.
To ensure institutional continuity, Ms. Ekeledo will remain involved as a member of the AfriLabs Advisory Council, where she is expected to provide strategic guidance and preserve organisational memory as a new executive director is appointed.
Beyond its internal growth, AfriLabs has steadily increased its profile as a global thought leader on innovation and entrepreneurship in emerging markets. Over the past several years, the network has built partnerships with governments, multilateral institutions, development agencies, and private-sector players, positioning itself as a bridge between African startups and global capital, policy, and expertise.
Through a portfolio of flagship programmes, regional initiatives, and high-level convenings, AfriLabs has helped catalyse startup financing, supported capacity building for innovation hubs, and contributed to policy conversations that shaped startup legislation in several African countries. These efforts have elevated the organisation’s voice in discussions around digital transformation, entrepreneurship policy, and inclusive economic growth.
The leadership transition comes at a time when Africa’s startup ecosystem is navigating a more challenging funding environment, even as interest in technology-enabled solutions to local and global problems continues to rise. AfriLabs said the next phase of leadership will focus on deepening impact across member hubs while strengthening the organisation’s role on the global stage.
AfriLabs described the transition not as a pause but as a strategic pivot, aimed at reinforcing its position at the centre of Africa’s innovation landscape while preparing the organisation to respond to evolving economic and technological realities across the continent.