More than 1,500 participants from across Nigeria and other parts of the African continent are expected to gather in Abuja for the 2026 Africa Teachers Festival (ATF).

The festival, themed ‘Celebrating Teachers, Transforming Africa’s Future,’ will hold from August 17 to 22 at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre and Suites, Asokoro, Abuja.

Speaking at the unveiling of the event in Abuja on Tuesday, Chairman of the festival, Adeyemi Adebayo, said the programme was conceived to celebrate teachers’ contributions to nation-building, strengthen their capacity through professional development opportunities and promote collaboration among education stakeholders across Africa.

According to Adebayo, Africa, with an average age of about 20 years, is expected to contribute approximately 25 per cent of the global workforce by 2050, making the role of teachers increasingly critical.

He added that the growing influence of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of work underscores the need to equip teachers with the skills required to prepare young Africans for emerging realities.

He announced that the week-long festival will feature practical workshops on digital tools and inclusive teaching practices, keynote addresses by leading education experts, exhibitions showcasing innovative teaching resources and educational technologies, as well as award presentations to outstanding teachers across the continent.

The Chairman said the initiative has attracted support from several institutions, including the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Ministry of Education, the Universal Basic Education Commission, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the National Tourism Development Agency, the National Export Promotion Council and the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative.

He said the festival is expected to enhance teachers’ professional competencies, increase visibility for education initiatives and foster networks capable of influencing education policies and improving learning outcomes across Africa.

Also, the Founder and Executive Convener of the Festival, Bukola Lawal, said the initiative was conceived as a response to the realities confronting educators across the continent.

According to her, the festival represents a movement aimed at recognising the critical role teachers play in shaping Africa’s future while addressing the professional and personal challenges many educators encounter.

Lawal noted that years of experience as an educator and school leader exposed her to the dedication, resilience and sacrifices of teachers, as well as the gaps in access to professional development, recognition, networking opportunities and exposure to innovation and global best practices.

“It was from this reality that the vision of the African Teachers Festival was born,” she said.

She explained that ATF 2026 would serve as a pan-African platform bringing together educators, policymakers, development partners, innovators, entrepreneurs, youth leaders and other stakeholders committed to transforming education on the continent.

Also speaking, Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, described the event as a timely initiative that offers stakeholders in the education sector an avenue to jointly address challenges confronting education systems across the continent.

Garba said the festival would provide educators, policymakers, researchers, development partners, innovators and private sector leaders with an opportunity to explore practical solutions aimed at strengthening education systems and improving learning outcomes in Africa.

She expressed optimism about the festival’s focus areas, noting that they align with the realities of contemporary education and the demands of the future.

According to her, the emphasis on teacher professional development, artificial intelligence and digital learning, STEM education and innovation, educational leadership and school improvement, teacher wellbeing and empowerment, as well as continental collaboration and knowledge exchange, reflects the direction education systems across Africa must take.