Association of African Business Schools

✨ Save the Date!

The AABS 2026 African Deans & Directors Forum is coming to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe! 🇿🇼

Join deans, directors, and business school leaders from across Africa for three days of engaging discussions, knowledge sharing, and valuable networking opportunities focused on advancing business and management education across the continent.

📅 18-20 November 2026
📍 Hosted by: National University of Science and Technology

More information coming soon.

🌙✨ Eid Adha Mubarak!

On this blessed occasion, we extend our warmest wishes to all those celebrating. May this Eid bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to you, your families, and your communities.

Wishing you a joyful and blessed Eid.

We are delighted to welcome Desalegn Mekuria, President of Kibur College, to the AABS Board.

Desalegn brings extensive experience in higher education leadership and a strong commitment to advancing business education across Africa. We look forward to the insight, expertise, and perspective he will contribute as we continue strengthening the AABS network and supporting excellence in management education throughout the continent.

On behalf of the AABS Board, and members, we warmly welcome Desalegn and look forward to working together to advance the mission and impact of AABS. 🌍✨

We extend our sincere appreciation to Angela Ndunge, Senior Lecturer at Strathmore Business School (SBS), as her term on the AABS Board comes to an end.

Angela’s dedication, insight, and commitment have made a valuable contribution to the growth and advancement of AABS. Her service and leadership have helped strengthen our community and support the development of business education across Africa.

On behalf of the AABS Board, and members, we thank Angela for her outstanding service and wish her every success in her future endeavors. We look forward to her continued engagement with the AABS community. 🌍✨

🌍 Celebrating Africa | its people, cultures, innovation, and limitless potential.

Happy Africa Day to all those working to shape a stronger, more prosperous, and more connected continent.

🌍 That’s a wrap on the AABS 2026 Connect Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

A memorable few days of insightful conversations, meaningful connections, new partnerships, and shared visions for the future of African business education. Thank you to all our speakers, delegates, partners, sponsors, and our incredible host, Kibur College, for making this conference such a special and impactful experience. ✨

Until next time. ❤️🌍

🌍 Collaborative Initiative | Strengthening Africa’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

An engaging session on “Strengthening Africa’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem” introduced a new pan-African initiative aimed at advancing entrepreneurial capacity across business schools on the continent. Jalaleddine K., Head of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Africa at ESSEC Africa, Hicham SEBTI, Associate Dean of ESSEC Africa, Yetunde Anibaba, Accreditation Director at Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, and Helmi H. Hammami Hammami, Dean of ESLSCA Business School ESLSCA University and AABS Accreditation Committee Chair, shared reflections on building stronger incubation systems, enhancing institutional capacity, and enabling cross-border startup support across Africa. ✨🌍

The discussion highlighted the importance of collaboration, ecosystem mapping, and pan-African partnerships in creating more coordinated and impactful entrepreneurial pathways for future innovators and business leaders.

🌍 Sponsor Session | Preparing Students for the Transformation of Work

An insightful sponsor session led by Christophe B., COO of Noèse, explored how business schools can better equip students for a rapidly evolving labour market shaped by technological advancement, AI, and changing workforce expectations. The discussion reflected on the importance of self-awareness, decision-making informed by cognitive sciences, and the development of verified competency portfolios that demonstrate real-world capabilities. ✨🌍

The session also highlighted how AI-enabled platforms and innovative learning approaches can help institutions enhance employability pathways, expand access to global opportunities, and better align education with emerging workforce demands.

🌍 Beyond Access | Preparing African Graduates for a Digital and Global Economy

An engaging session on “Beyond Access” explored how African business schools can prepare graduates to become digitally competent, globally competitive, and innovation-ready in an increasingly interconnected world. Cosme Almeida, Abroad Programmes Director at Católica Porto Business School, Yabebal Fantaye, Co-Founder of 10 Academy, and Philasande Sokhela, Head of the Center for African Business and Internationalization at Johannesburg Business School (JBS), shared insights on digital fluency, global employability, and cross-border collaboration. ✨🌍

The discussion highlighted the importance of innovation, international partnerships, and future-focused learning models in equipping African graduates with the skills and adaptability needed to thrive in the evolving global economy.

🌍 From Research to Impact | Strengthening Africa’s Knowledge Ecosystem

An insightful session on “From Research to Impact” explored how African business schools can strengthen research ecosystems to drive meaningful real-world impact across the continent. Konjit Hailu Gudeta, Assistant Professor at the School of Commerce, Addis Ababa University, and Ethiopia S., Assistant Professor in the Department of Management at Addis Ababa University, reflected on the importance of collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers in advancing African research and innovation. ✨🌍

Moderated by Amanuel Tekleab, Professor of Management at Wayne State University - Mike Ilitch School of Business, the discussion highlighted strategies for strengthening institutional research capacity, developing sustainable partnerships, and ensuring African research contributes meaningfully to both continental and global knowledge conversations.