Academic City University has organised the Collaborative for Engineering Education Advancement (CEEA) in Africa Summit 2026 as part of efforts towards shaping the future of engineering education on the continent.

The summit themed “Engineering Education for a Sustainable Future in Emerging Economies” served as a platform for critical discussions on how engineering education can better respond to Africa’s development challenges while preparing graduates for a rapidly evolving global economy.

The summit focused on key areas including artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, entrepreneurship and innovation, STEM education, inclusion and access, policy reforms, and stronger partnerships among academia, industry and government. Participants explored practical solutions to strengthen Africa’s engineering talent pipeline and ensure that engineering education remains relevant to the continent’s socio-economic transformation.

It brought together leading educators, industry executives, policymakers, researchers, development partners and students from across Africa and beyond.

Addressing participants at the opening ceremony, the President of Academic City University, Prof. Fred McBagonluri, emphasised the need for Africa to rethink engineering education if it is to achieve sustainable development and compete effectively in the global knowledge economy.

He noted that engineering education must move beyond traditional classroom instruction to embrace innovation, entrepreneurship, experiential learning and industry engagement.

“The future of Africa’s development will depend largely on the quality of engineers we produce today. We must therefore build educational systems that equip young people not only with technical competencies but also with the creativity, adaptability and entrepreneurial mindset needed to solve Africa’s most pressing challenges,” he said.

The summit featured keynote presentations from distinguished academics and industry leaders, including Prof. Winston Wole Soboyejo, who delivered the opening keynote on engineering education for sustainable development in emerging economies. Other speakers included Prof. Elsie Effah Kaufmann, Prof. Gordon Awandare, Dr. William Amuna and Prof. Smile Gavua Dzisi.

Speaking during one of the panel discussions, the Executive Director of the Ghana Institution of Engineering, Dr. Enyonam Kpekpena, stressed the importance of mentorship, early STEM exposure and stronger industry collaboration in building a robust engineering workforce capable of driving national and continental development.