FEWA AI Summit - 2nd Edition

Theme: University & the Future of Work in the Age of AI.

Sub-Theme: Disruption of Industries & The Future of Work.

Convened by FEWA (Future of Education & Work in Africa) in partnership with the Mobile World Congress Kigali by GSMA, the Summit is the dedicated platform focused on the transformation of universities and workforce systems in the Age of AI. The summit will convene Ministers, Policymakers, Vice Chancellors, & University Leaders, Innovators, Labor Experts and Industry Executives to rethink the role of Higher Education & the Future of Work in the Age of AI. 

In 2025, FEWA hosted the inaugural FEWA AI Summit within the Mobile World Congress (MWC) series in Kigali - Learn more. The Summit themed ‘Driving AI innovation in Education & the Future of Work’ was held under the patronage of Rwanda’s Ministry of Education and was formally opened by Hon. Joseph Nsengimana, Minister of Education, Rwanda. Key summit outcomes included the signing of a Smart Education partnership agreement with Ethio Telecom - one of Africa's largest telecommunications providers: Learn more.

The Moment Demands It

A student in Nairobi can now acquire job-ready AI skills through a six-month micro-credential at a fraction of the cost of a four-year degree. An employer in Lagos is hiring based on demonstrated competence, not necessarily a university degree. Meanwhile, most African universities are still teaching curricula designed for a 1990s economy.

The question is no longer whether AI will disrupt higher education or labor markets. It is whether the traditional university model can prepare students for the AI-age economy, in the wake of topics like AI Agents, AGI, UBI, UHI, and Humanoid Robots currently featuring in global discussions.

The Summit confronts this directly:

• What should universities stop teaching - and what must they start teaching tomorrow?
• How do governments finance the reskilling of millions of workers in sectors facing AI disruption?
• Should Africa treat its university AI capacity as public digital infrastructure?
• What proven education models from Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia can the continent adapt and accelerate?

These are not academic questions. They are economic policy questions. And they will be answered in Kigali.

What Happens in the Room

High-Level Ministerial Dialogues
Ministries of Education, ICT, and Finance respond to specific, prepared challenge questions with each official sharing their national perspective on the AI Economy, Higher Education, and Labor.

The University Leaders Forum
Vice Chancellors and University Leaders from across the continent engage in a structured dialogue on micro-credentials, AI-driven curricula, and the business models that will sustain the university of the future.

Industry & Policy Convergence
A rare platform where governments, private sector leaders, and multilateral organizations align on AI strategy, workforce investment, and the regulatory frameworks that will govern both.

FEWA Global Voices
A curated series of pre-recorded messages from global leaders who cannot attend in person- played during dedicated Summit moments and permanently archived as a standing reference for policymakers.

The Defining Output: The FEWA University & AI Declaration

Every session, panel, and ministerial dialogue feeds into one outcome:

A landmark policy commitment that will inform higher education reform across the continent. Endorsed by ministers and institutional leaders, the Declaration becomes a permanent reference point - tracked, reviewed, and strengthened annually through FEWA’s annual conference.

Join the Room

Africa's AI education architecture is being drafted on June 18

Be in the room where it happens.

Learn more about FEWA.