Abuja is set to host more than 1,500 educators, policymakers, development partners and other stakeholders from across Africa for the African Teachers Festival (ATF) 2026.
The Pan-African gathering, organised under the theme “Transforming Africa’s Education through Innovation, Collaboration and Leadership”, is designed to reposition teachers at the centre of educational transformation on the continent.
Speaking to journalists ahead of the event in Abuja scheduled to take place from 17th to 22nd August 2026, the Founder and Executive Convener of the African Teachers Festival, Bukola Lawal, said the event aims to reimagine the role and recognition of teachers in Africa’s development trajectory.
Lawal said the vision for the festival was born out of long-standing observations of the realities faced by teachers, including limited access to professional development, inadequate recognition and insufficient exposure to global best practices.
“As an educator and school leader for over a decade, I have witnessed the dedication and sacrifices of teachers, as well as the challenges they continue to face. We asked ourselves a simple question; what would happen if we created a platform where teachers from across Africa could come together to learn, collaborate, innovate and be inspired?”
According to her, ATF 2026 will serve as a continental platform bringing together educators, innovators, youth leaders, policymakers and development partners to advance education through shared learning and collaboration.
She noted that the festival will feature AI and digital learning sessions, STEM workshops, leadership forums, policy dialogues, entrepreneurship and wealth creation sessions, cultural exchange programmes, exhibitions and the African Teachers Excellence Awards.
Also speaking, the Executive Assistant to the Special Adviser To the Minister of Education on STEM, Miss Mercy Aigbomian said the festival was timely and aligned with national and continental education priorities.
She noted that the theme reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen access, quality, equity and relevance in education systems across Africa.
“Education remains the most powerful investment any nation can make in its future, and at the centre of that investment is the teacher.
“No education system can rise above the quality of its teachers,” she added.
On his part, the Chairman of the African Teachers Festival 2026, Adeyemi Adebayo, said the festival is designed to celebrate teachers as the backbone of development while equipping them with new skills and fostering cross-border collaboration.
He added that the programme will include practical workshops on digital tools and inclusive pedagogy, keynote addresses from leading education experts, exhibitions of innovative learning tools and awards recognising outstanding teachers.
