Innovate Africa Foundation (IAF) has provided more than 450 scholarships to emerging product managers and technology professionals as part of efforts to strengthen Africa’s digital workforce and support the development of technology-driven businesses.

The scholarships were announced in connection with the Inspire Africa Conference, held in Lagos on October 14 and 15, 2026, which brought together more than 600 participants, including technology professionals, startup founders, corporate executives and representatives of public and educational institutions.

According to the organisers, the initiative was designed to give early-career professionals access to practical training, industry mentorship and networking opportunities that could support their development in product management and related technology fields.

The foundation said its wider objective was to help build a pool of professionals capable of developing products that address business and consumer needs across African markets.

The conference featured discussions and workshops on product strategy, business growth, artificial intelligence, customer experience and the challenges facing technology companies operating across the continent.

The foundation said the scholarships enabled more than 450 aspiring and early-career product professionals to participate in learning activities alongside experienced industry practitioners.

Participants were offered opportunities to attend expert-led sessions, engage with established product leaders and gain exposure to practical approaches to product development.

IAF described the programme as part of its commitment to strengthening the skills needed to support Africa’s technology ecosystem.

Product management involves identifying customer needs, defining product strategies and coordinating teams responsible for developing and improving services.

As African businesses increasingly adopt digital systems, demand for professionals who can connect technology development with commercial objectives has become an important consideration for employers.

The foundation said its training activities were intended to help bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and the practical skills required in technology-driven organisations.

The event attracted speakers and participants from financial services, telecommunications, technology and business education.

Among the keynote speakers were Olu Akanmu, Petra Willie and Charity Ibhadon, who addressed different aspects of product leadership, innovation and organisational development.

The organisers also reported participation by representatives of the Mastercard Foundation, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and Lagos Business School.

According to IAF, the discussions examined how public policy, digital infrastructure, professional training and business investment could contribute to the growth of Africa’s technology sector.

The foundation said Paga and Interswitch had supported the conference since 2023, reflecting their continued involvement in initiatives aimed at developing technology and product-management capabilities.

The conference also provided a platform for participants to examine the relationship between digital innovation and measurable business performance.

A major component of the conference was a closed-door Chief Product Officer and C-Suite Summit led by Christian Idiodi, a partner at Silicon Valley Product Group.

The summit brought together senior executives from companies including Nedbank, Absa, Access Bank, Stanbic IBTC, MTN and Paga, according to the organisers.

Discussions focused on the need for companies to move beyond measuring product development primarily by the number of features released.

Instead, participants examined how product strategies could be linked more directly to customer needs, revenue performance, operational efficiency and other measurable business outcomes.

The sessions also addressed the importance of validating product ideas before committing substantial resources to development.

This approach is intended to help organisations reduce spending on products or features that may not attract sufficient customer demand.

For large businesses, the challenge extends beyond developing new technology.

It also involves ensuring that product, engineering, marketing and commercial teams work towards common objectives.

The organisers said the summit explored ways of improving coordination between these functions while strengthening decision-making around product investment.

Alongside the executive sessions, the conference hosted workshops for product managers working in financial services and other technology-dependent industries.

Facilitators included Roger Norton, Petra Willie, Annu Augustine Abiola Laseinde and Nkem Nweke.

The organisers said participants came from organisations including Visa, Moniepoint, Accion Microfinance and First Bank.

The workshops examined product-management methods, customer-focused design and techniques for translating business problems into practical product solutions.

Participants were introduced to approaches for evaluating ideas, prioritising product features and measuring the results of development decisions.

IAF said the emphasis was on applying the concepts to real business situations rather than limiting discussions to general principles.

More than 100 startup founders also participated in conference activities focused on venture development and business growth.

Sessions addressed product-market fit, business-model validation, scaling operations and the difficulties of building sustainable companies in competitive markets.

Among the facilitators were Chidi Afulezi of redKola, Akachukwu Okafor of Shuttler, Joycee Awosika of ORÍKÌ and Ayo Alaba of GoPaddi.

Other speakers included Olawale Oladunni of Delivery Hero, Herzt Fauzan of Train of Thought, Charity Ibhadon of WPP and Ope Oyinloye of Paga.

According to the organisers, the sessions were designed to help founders assess customer demand, improve their products and make more informed decisions about business expansion.

The discussions also highlighted the importance of developing products that solve identifiable problems rather than relying solely on technology adoption as a measure of progress.

For early-stage businesses, the ability to test assumptions before making substantial investments can be particularly important where access to funding is limited.

The conference also featured a practical workshop examining how Canva’s artificial intelligence tools could support product design and early-stage development.

Participants were shown how to use the platform to develop prototypes, experiment with design concepts and assess ideas before beginning more resource-intensive software development.

The organisers said the session demonstrated how product teams could use accessible digital tools to shorten the initial stages of experimentation.

Rapid prototyping allows businesses to create preliminary versions of a product or interface and gather feedback before committing to full development.

Although such tools cannot replace comprehensive product testing or technical validation, they can help teams identify weaknesses in an idea at an earlier stage.

The workshop formed part of the conference’s wider emphasis on practical demonstrations and the application of technology to business challenges.

Following the Lagos event, Innovate Africa Foundation announced plans to expand the Inspire Africa Conference in 2027.

According to the foundation, the next edition will include activities in Lagos, Cape Town, Nairobi and Casablanca.

The proposed expansion would extend the conference’s geographical reach across West, Southern, East and North Africa.

IAF said the initiative was intended to connect more technology professionals, founders, investors and corporate organisations across different African markets.

The foundation also indicated that it would continue seeking partnerships to support training programmes, scholarships and professional development opportunities.