Education
Harvard Business School Leverages Africa’s Entrepreneurial Community
By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
In a recent interview, Program Director Diane Waters highlighted the innovative AfricaLive! online course, meticulously crafted by Harvard Business School professors Caroline Elkins, Tarun Khanna, and Karim Lakhani. Aimed specifically at nurturing talent within the African market, these esteemed educators have tailored a curriculum that addresses the unique challenges and opportunities of the continent’s burgeoning business sector and dynamic entrepreneurial landscape. Here are the interview excerpts:
What are the reasons for starting AfricaLive? How important is this study program for young business leaders in Africa
The AfricaLive! online course was created by Harvard Business School professors to meet the urgent need for skill and knowledge development in Africa’s burgeoning business sector, aiming to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with the necessary tools to navigate and lead in a dynamic environment. Customized for individuals aiming to innovate and expand in the African market, AfricaLive! merges Harvard’s scholarly excellence with the practical wisdom of African industry leaders. The course offers a mix of interactive virtual sessions, small group activities, and asynchronous learning modules, providing a comprehensive and engaging approach to application and learning. Designed to encourage innovation, strategic thinking, and ethical leadership, AfricaLive! readies participants for impactful careers, providing a rich, engaging curriculum and culminating in dual certification from HarvardX and AfricaLive!, affirming their expertise and commitment to driving sustainable change.
Do you believe building the entrepreneurial capacity of the participants will enhance their understanding of the emerging challenges in the changing business landscape
Equipping AfricaLive! participants with essential skills and knowledge enhance their ability to navigate the dynamic and complex markets of Africa. Entrepreneurial capacity extends beyond business management to include innovation, critical thinking, and resilience. As they face technological advances and shifting economic trends, entrepreneurs must adapt and innovate. Training fosters agility and foresight, preparing them to anticipate changes, understand global impacts on local markets, and address emerging challenges, while promoting continuous learning and adaptation in a fast-paced world.
Entrepreneurship is very challenging. In what ways would you argue that the AfricaLive! educational program provides the necessary skills for young vibrant leaders
AfricaLive! is designed to prepare young leaders for the entrepreneurial landscape, blending theoretical knowledge with practical skills in real-world contexts. The course offers discussions with Harvard faculty and African industry leaders, encouraging innovation, creativity, and strategic thinking. It emphasizes resilience, adaptability, and ethical leadership, equipping participants to navigate business uncertainties and contribute positively to society. Networking with peers and industry leaders further enriches the experience, creating a robust support system for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Do you agree that there are diversities in business culture in African countries? What could be the best way to systematize entrepreneurial policies to help Africa’s development
Indeed, there is a rich tapestry of diversity in business culture across African countries, reflective of the continent’s wide array of languages, ethnicities, traditions, and historical backgrounds. Each country, and often regions within countries, has its own unique business customs, economic environments, and regulatory frameworks. This diversity can present both challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs and policymakers.
To effectively systematize entrepreneurial policies for Africa’s development, a multi-faceted, collaborative approach is essential. Tailoring policies to local contexts, encouraging pan-African dialogue, and involving diverse stakeholders ensures policies are relevant and comprehensive. Emphasizing education and skill development, alongside creating robust support systems like funding, mentorship, and incubators, will equip entrepreneurs to thrive and contribute to a unified and progressive business environment across the continent.
What are the future visions for African Entrepreneurs and the single continental free market (AfCFTA)
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents a future of vast opportunities for African entrepreneurs, offering access to a larger market and a more integrated continent. It promises reduced trade barriers, streamlined customs, and a harmonious regulatory environment, enabling entrepreneurs to expand beyond local confines, innovate, and compete more effectively. This vision includes increased intra-African trade, collaboration, and shared knowledge and resources, leading to economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development. Ultimately, AfCFTA positions entrepreneurs at the forefront of transforming Africa into a thriving, unified, and prosperous economy. The course is accessible at the website: https://africalive.education/
By Adedapo Adesanya
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the results of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates, with 61.54 per cent of candidates obtaining credits in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
The Head of WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, Mr Amos Dangut, announced the results at a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday.
Mr Dangut said 1,200,514 candidates met the benchmark for admission to higher institutions, out of the 1,950,726 candidates who sat the examination nationwide, held between April 24 and June 19.
He said 102,708 examiners were engaged in the marking exercise held at 88 marking venues across the country between 2 July and 20 July.
“Today, I am happy to inform you that all the processes leading to the release of results have been completed. It is now my pleasure to announce the release of the results of candidates who sat the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2026 in Nigeria,” he said, directing candidates to the agency’s portal to access their results.
“UPDATE: 2026 WASSCE (SC) results have been released. Generate your PIN at waec.org and check your results now on waecdirect.org,” the examination body said, noting that candidates must obtain their Serial Number and PIN before they can check their results.
To generate the required credentials, candidates are expected to visit WAEC’s official website and select the “Serial Number and PIN” option at the top of the page.
They are then required to select the appropriate examination year and diet, enter their examination number and National Identification Number (NIN), and ensure that the NIN provided is the same one used during registration for the examination.
Candidates must also provide their email address and phone number to receive a One-Time Password (OTP).
After entering the OTP, candidates can recover their Serial Number and PIN, which they can subsequently use to check their results through WAEC Direct.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Over 200 senior students of Cleggs Girls High School, Surulere, Lagos, were on July 23, 2026, engaged in practical knowledge about the risks associated with smoking, vaping, and shisha.
This engagement was made possible through a collaboration between Breathe Life Foundation and Teach Nigeria Fellow.
Participants were students aged 15–19 years. They were also informed about the misconception that shisha is a safer alternative to cigarettes or other substances.
Through an engaging and interactive discussion, students explored the influence of peer pressure and learned practical strategies for making healthier, more informed lifestyle choices.
They also gained a better understanding of common environmental triggers of asthma and other respiratory conditions, including cigarette smoke, generator fumes, bush burning, mosquito coil smoke, candles, charcoal, and firewood.
The session highlighted an important reality: young people may not always recognise how seemingly routine lifestyle choices and environmental exposures can gradually affect their respiratory health, quality of life, and long-term wellbeing.
For Breathe Life Foundation, this reinforces the importance of shifting the conversation from treatment to prevention through awareness and education.
By equipping young people with the knowledge to identify risks and make healthier choices early, the foundation is helping to build a generation that is more conscious of – and better prepared to protect – its respiratory health.
The organisation said it is dedicated to advancing respiratory health, an often-neglected public health priority. Healthy lungs are essential to life, yet respiratory diseases remain among the world’s leading causes of death and disability, even though many are preventable and treatable.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) schemes, the Obajana Plant of Dangote Cement Plc has distributed some educational materials to some pupils in Kogi State.
The items shared to the beneficiaries included school bags, exercise books, writing materials, water bottles, and other essential learning aids aimed at enhancing the learning experience of the pupils and preparing them for the next academic session.
The General Manager for the Social Performance Department of Dangote Cement at Obajana Plant, Mr Ademola Adeyemi, said the materials were donated days after Dangote Cement distributed similar education materials to pupils in public schools in its catchment communities of Oyo, Iwaa, Obajana and Apata; and commissioned a multi-million-naira hospital in Obajana, which added to the growing list of social investments that includes an earlier hospital project in Iwaa and Oyo Communities.
He noted that, over the years, the company has invested billions of naira in a wide range of social programmes for host communities, including empowerment programmes, road construction, and potable water projects, and it remains resolute in its commitment to sustaining and expanding its interventions.
He noted that the company’s corporate social responsibility programmes are aligned with government development priorities and are implemented through sustained, mutually beneficial partnerships.
“The intervention was informed by findings from a needs assessment conducted by Dangote Cement. During the assessment, it was observed that several pupils attended school without school bags, while others carried their books by hand. It was also discovered that many students lacked essential learning materials such as exercise books, pens, pencils, and other basic learning materials,” the cement firm said.
The Head Teacher of UBE LGEA School, St. Luke Model II, Adankolo, Lokoja Local Government Area, Mr Abubakar Sanni, expressed profound appreciation to the management of Dangote Cement for the gesture.
The Head Teacher expressed gratitude to the Group President of the conglomerate, Aliko Dangote, for extending the company’s educational support programme beyond its host and impacted communities to schools located at the state headquarters.
The beneficiaries, school management, parents, and community stakeholders expressed gratitude to Dangote Cement for the timely intervention and prayed for the continued growth and success of the company in its efforts to improve lives and support sustainable community development.
