MEST Africa, the pan-African tech incubator and training ground for early-stage entrepreneurs, hosted its latest Guest Lecture Weekend, bringing together a distinguished lineup of alumni, tech leaders, and mentors to share experiences and strategies with its current cohort of Entrepreneurs in Training (EITs).

Held at MEST’s Accra campus, the forum served as a powerful reminder of the program’s ongoing influence in shaping Africa’s innovation ecosystem.

Among the notable alumni present is Samuel Darko, a 2009 MEST graduate and Vice President at global consulting firm Genpact.

Reflecting on the impact of his time at MEST, Darko said, “My single biggest takeaway from MEST was that I am world-class and can compete with others on the world stage. That has been my guiding principle in all my endeavours.” he said. Also sharing his perspective was Eric Nsarkoh, Head of Engineering at Stanbic Bank Ghana.

Speaking on the role of relationships in career development, he noted, “My journey has been a journey of people. Based on my own experiences, my advice is: do your research, validate your passion, trust your instincts, and live as you grow.”

One of the session’s most anticipated speakers was Omogbolahan Alli, Vice President of Developer Relations at Mara, and a long-time contributor to Africa’s tech ecosystem. Known for his work in blockchain, AI, and Financial Technology, Omogbolahan shared practical insights on leadership, resilience, and community building.

Drawing from his experience as the the driving force behind billion-naira tech projects like the Access Bank x Udacity Advance Africa initiative, which trained over 20,000 young Africans in cloud, AI, and software development. Omogbolahan encouraged EITs to embrace experimentation and iteration.

“Fail fast, fail forward, and take notes,” he told the audience. “Inspect, adapt, repeat” he continued, explaining that real innovation happens through movement, not perfection.

He also spoke passionately about the need to give back to the ecosystem, urging young founders to not only grow but to uplift others as they do.

The event was one in a series of mentorship and leadership sessions hosted by MEST, designed to expose aspiring entrepreneurs to real-world challenges and opportunities. Over the years, MEST has funded over 80 startups and trained hundreds of entrepreneurs across the continent. For the current class of EITs, the lecture weekend offered more than inspiration, it was a call to action. As one participant put it, “Hearing directly from leaders like Omogbolahan makes success feel possible. They’ve walked this path and now we know we can too.”