Africa Futures Laureate

The AFI Honors recognizes progress on two fronts; the systems enabling progress and the young pioneers embodying it - represented through the Africa Futures Laureate & Africa’s Next 100.

The Africa Futures Laureate is a sequel to the Index Rankings, where exemplary nations and standout leaders are recognized as symbolic lighthouses, guiding Africa toward a future where youth are not just participants in nation-building, but strategic drivers of it.

Explore Laureate Winners

Futures Laureate Essence

Immortalizes Legacy

Showcasing lifetime achievements and transformative contributions toward youth leadership empowerment.

Inspires Other African Countries

Providing real-world examples of countries where intergenerational leadership is not just rhetoric but reality, offering a blueprint for how shared power between generations can yield measurable transformation.

Validates Effort & Excellence

Offering continental acknowledgment that drives greater commitment to youth inclusion.

Feeds the Africa Futures Index

Serving as a living archive of proven excellence in youth leadership integration, influencing policy and inspiring replication of best practices.

Africa’s Next 100

Parallel to honoring nations, Africa’s next 100 is a continental spotlight shines on the most promising young leaders and change makers under 45 whose vision, innovation, and execution are actively refining the African story.

Leaders in Motion

These are young policymakers rewriting governance models, founders building industries from scratch, scientists breaking frontiers, artists reshaping cultural consciousness, activists mobilising millions, and technologists engineering Africa’s leap into the future. They are not waiting to inherit leadership. They are claiming it, designing it and redefining what it means.

Why Africa’s Next 100 Matters

Class of 2026

Information Desk

Who We Celebrate

Africa’s Next 100 recognizes phenomenal individuals under 45 across:

Governance & Public Policy
Business & Entrepreneurship
Private Sector Leaders
Science, Technology & Innovation
Creative Economy, Media & Culture
Philanthropy & Social Impact
Academia & Thought Leadership

Whether they lead institutions or movements, build products or policies, they shift realities.

Selection Philosophy

Candidates are evaluated not just on visibility, but on:

Impact — Proven contribution to societal, economic, or institutional progress
Innovation — Pioneering bold new models, tools, or frameworks
Integrity & Leadership — Demonstrating values-based influence
Scalability — Potential for continental or global ripple effect
Legacy Potential — Building platforms that outlive them

Honorees Package

Official Africa’s Next 100 Title & Certificate of Distinction
Spotlight Across AFN Media & Partner Platforms
Invitation to Leadership Roundtables & Global Convenings
Scalability — Potential for continental or global ripple effect
Published Feature in the Africa Futures Index Report
Access to Fellowship & Policy Influence Pathways

How to Nominate

Step 1 — Submit a Nomination Form

Share the profile of an outstanding young leader (self-nomination allowed)

Step 2 — Review & Verification

All submissions are evaluated by a panel of distinguished leaders across sectors.

Step 3 — Announcement & Honouring

The final 100 are announced at the Africa Futures Forum, with a live induction and recognition ceremony.

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