African Professionals Boost Innovation for Resilient Future
Africa is increasingly looking to innovation as the key to resilient development, as traditional models struggle to keep pace with rapid urbanisation, youth unemployment, climate change, and infrastructure deficits.
This shift was evident at the 2025 Innovation Forum, hosted by the Certified Innovation Professionals Association (CIPA) at NIBS University in Accra. The forum brought together academics, students, industry leaders, and policymakers to explore ways to accelerate innovation for sustainable development across the continent.
Under the theme “Sustainability Through Innovation: Building Resilient Systems for Tomorrow”, the event focused on equipping young professionals with the skills and mindset needed to tackle Africa’s most pressing challenges.
Dr Evans Duah, Head of International Relations at AAMUSTED, speaking with JoyNews, stressed the vital role of young people in Africa’s transformation. “Africa’s transformation depends largely on young people shifting from passive complaint to active problem-solving,” he stated.
He urged them to focus on identifying and developing practical solutions to local issues like waste management, food insecurity, energy access, and affordable housing, with the potential for widespread implementation.
Dr Richard Ampofo Boadu, CIPA President, highlighted the association’s growing influence in Ghana’s innovation landscape. He explained that the Certified Innovation Professional programme provides participants with structured tools, design thinking skills, and frameworks to enhance organisational processes.
“The programme attracts individuals from diverse backgrounds, reflecting Ghana’s increasing commitment to fostering an innovation-conscious professional culture,” he added.
The forum also celebrated the graduation and induction of 14 students from Cohort 15 into CIPA membership. One of the new members expressed a desire to share their knowledge with future generations, focusing on the future of business, global competitiveness, and building sustainable systems for a changing job market.
Organisers emphasised that the forum is part of a larger effort to build a robust innovation ecosystem in Ghana, aligning with the continent’s broader push for digital transformation, industrialisation, and green growth.
They are calling on young professionals, businesses, and institutions to embrace practical, locally-relevant, and sustainable solutions to drive long-term development throughout Africa.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
