UNGA 81   /   New York   /   24 September 2026

Concluded

A gathering for peace & purpose

The 3rd Annual Africa–US Presidential Forumwith Royal Love 777 & Wonders from Ghana's Volta River

Two book launches. Three presidential honors. A celebration of servant leadership.
An afternoon of recognition, culture and peace, held at Tillman Chapel, Church Center for the United Nations (777 UN Plaza).

Thursday, 24 September 20261:00–3:00 PM New York time
New York, NY 10017Tillman Chapel Church Center for the UN · 777 UN Plaza
Recap
Presented by

World Peace Volunteers · Nekotech Center of Excellence · Africa–US Presidential Forum

H.E. Dr. Lazarus Chakwera · 6th President of Malawi • H.E. Dr. Julius Maada Bio · President of Sierra Leone • H.E. Dr. Joyce H. Banda · 4th President of Malawi • HRM King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II · Ga Mantse, Ga State • Dr. Nariman Farvardin · President, Stevens Institute of Technology • H.E. Rev. Dr. Princess A.K. Ocansey · Founder, Nekotech •

2027 Edition

A special high-level convening.

Following the 3rd Annual convening at UNGA 81, the Africa–US Presidential Forum will convene a special high-level edition in Davos, Switzerland on 18–22 January 2027, on the margins of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.

  • African heads of state on the WEF stage
  • Invitation-only, alongside the Annual Meeting
  • Capital, policy & partnership dialogues
Special Edition D

Davos, Switzerland

18–22 January 2027 · World Economic Forum Annual Meeting

An exclusive Davos edition convening African heads of state with global capital, multilateral institutions and the world’s leading technology firms — advancing the forum’s agenda on the global stage at the World Economic Forum.

  • FormatInvitation-only session
  • AudienceHeads of state, WEF delegates
  • FocusCapital, policy & partnerships
Request Davos invitation

About the forum

A presidential convening to rewrite Africa’s technology story.

See all press coverage of the Forum

The Africa–US Presidential Forum is co-hosted by the Nekotech Centre of Excellence and Stevens Institute of Technology. The forum brings together African presidents, U.S. government officials, corporate leaders and academic pioneers to address the most pressing question of our generation: how does Africa lead the next wave of science, technology and AI-driven enterprise?

The inaugural convening in September 2023 was hosted by Rutgers University–Newark, launching the annual dialogue between African heads of state, U.S. universities and STEM leadership that has defined the forum ever since.

The 2024 edition marked the second annual gathering and was held for the first time on Stevens’ Castle Point campus in Hoboken, New Jersey. It celebrated a milestone announcement of a one-billion-dollar Nekotech pledge to support 10,000 African graduate students pursuing degrees abroad over the next five years — a structural investment in the continent’s scientific workforce.

The 3rd Annual Forum convened at UNGA 81 in September 2026, complemented by a special edition in Davos, Switzerland (18–22 January 2027) on the margins of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting — taking the forum’s agenda to the world’s pre-eminent stage for global capital, policy and innovation.

“Africa missed three industrial revolutions. It is time to reclaim our rightful position — by equipping the next generation with the tools to operate successfully in a world built on STEM and AI.” — H.E. Rev. Dr. Princess A.K. Ocansey, Forum Co-Chair

Our mission

Three pillars. One continent. A generation of talent.

STEM Scholarship

Place exceptional African scholars in advanced science, engineering and mathematics programs at leading U.S. institutions — building research capacity that returns home.

AI Excellence

Accelerate AI-focused learning, ethics and applied research — equipping African talent to shape, not just consume, the algorithms reshaping every industry.

Technically Informed MBA

Develop a new class of African business leaders fluent in technology, capital markets and the systems that scale enterprise across continents.

Leadership

Leaders who have led and graced the Forum.

H.E. Rev. Dr. Princess Asie Kabuki Ocansey

H.E. Rev. Dr. Princess Asie Kabuki Ocansey

Founder & Convener, Africa–US Presidential Forum · Executive Chairperson & Founder, Nekotech Centre of Excellence

Architect of the forum and the $1B education pledge. Chairperson of Nekotech Centre of Excellence, SOS Labour Ghana Ltd., the US–Africa Ebola Working Group and Channels of Blessings. Recipient of the Ron Brown Award for International Trade, the Living Legend of Legal Migration Award, the Mama Africa Award for Rural Impact and White House recognition for “Save a Million Lives from HIV/AIDS.”

princessocansey.com ›
Dr. Nariman Farvardin

Dr. Nariman Farvardin

President, Stevens Institute of Technology

Co-chaired · Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ · September 2024

Co-chaired and hosted the 2nd Annual Forum at Stevens’ Castle Point campus, steering the university’s expansion of African educational partnerships.

H.E. Dr. Lazarus Chakwera

H.E. Dr. Lazarus Chakwera

6th President of Malawi

Chaired · Rutgers University–Newark · September 2023

Guest of honor; called the forum “an excellent initiative” for African workforce transformation.

Dr. Jeffrey A. Robinson

Dr. Jeffrey A. Robinson

then Provost, Rutgers University–Newark

Hosted · Rutgers University–Newark · September 2023

Served as Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor of Rutgers University–Newark when the 1st Annual Forum convened there in September 2023; now serves as the university’s Interim Chancellor.

H.E. Dr. Julius Maada Bio

H.E. Dr. Julius Maada Bio

President of Sierra Leone

Honoured · Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ · September 2024

Honoured · UNGA81, New York · September 2026

Presidential Honoree for his national investment in human capital and STEM-led development — recognized at Stevens in September 2024 with the African HeForShe Champion of the Year award and the Presidential African Intelligence Award, and honoured again at UNGA81 in September 2026.

H.E. Dr. Joyce H. Banda

H.E. Dr. Joyce H. Banda

4th President of Malawi

Honoured · Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ · September 2024

Honoured · UNGA81, New York · September 2026

Presidential Honoree and global advocate for the education and empowerment of African women and girls — received the Presidential Honorary Award at Stevens in September 2024, and was honoured again at UNGA81 in September 2026.

HRM King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II

HRM King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II

Ga Mantse, Ga State

Led · Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ · September 2024

Presidential Honoree; cultural steward connecting traditional leadership with Africa’s technology future. Received the Presidential Honorary Award from Stevens.

Recognition

Honoring the architect of the forum.

H.E. Rev. Dr. Princess A.K. Ocansey — co-chair of the forum and chairperson of the Nekotech Centre of Excellence — brings two decades of global recognition to the work of advancing African education, peace and migration. See the featured UNGA 81 Powerlist honour in the story carousel at the top of the page.

  • GlobalTop 100 Iconic Female World Leaders
  • KuwaitAfrican Bridge Building Award
  • USARon Brown Award for International Trade
  • CanadaUSA AU–DAF Bridge Builders Award
  • UKGPA UK Award for International Impact
  • GhanaLiving Legend of Legal Migration
  • USAWhite House Recognition · Save a Million Lives from HIV/AIDS
  • GlobalUN Secretary-General Support for Peace Crusade
  • GlobalWorld Literacy Crusade Ambassador
  • AfricaMama Africa Award for Rural Impact
  • GlobalCeld Women Leadership Award

The pledge in motion

A structural investment in African talent.

$1B

Capital commitment from Nekotech to fund African graduate education abroad.

10,000

African scholars supported in STEM, AI and MBA programs over five years.

5 yrs

Programme horizon — with cohorts deploying from the 2024–25 academic year.

3rd

Annual edition — convened at UNGA 81 in New York in September 2026, with the 2027 edition heading to Davos.

Co-hosts & partners

A coalition of institutions, governments and industry.

Nekotech Centre of Excellence

Transforming lives and communities across Africa through education, labor migration and healthcare — building the pipeline of African talent at the heart of this forum.

Stevens Institute of Technology

Host institution at Castle Point, Hoboken, New Jersey — expanding its African education initiative through dedicated STEM/AI/MBA pathways for forum scholars.

African Heads of State

Sitting presidents, former presidents and traditional rulers committing their administrations to forum priorities.

U.S. Government & Industry

Federal officials and corporate leaders shaping employer demand, policy frameworks and capital flows across the Atlantic.

Sponsors

Proudly sponsored by