Fellow Members of the Ashesi Community,

Here’s wishing you a joyful, healthy, and successful 2026. Welcome back to campus!

This March, Ashesi will mark 24 years of shaping African leaders and innovators. As we enter our 25th year, our mission—to educate the next generation of ethical entrepreneurial leaders—remains as important as ever.

We are making excellent progress on our strategic plan, Beyond the Horizon: launching new undergraduate, master’s, and executive programs; fostering greater inclusion; expanding our campus; and strengthening our team.

In 2026, we will implement a new academic calendar to maximize our impact year-round, reach more students, and deepen our commitment to research and innovation. We will continue to integrate Artificial Intelligence into teaching and university operations. And amid shifting global dynamics, we must engage seriously with the re-emergence of great-power competition and consider how African leaders should navigate it. There are lessons to be learned from Asian economies that successfully navigated the Cold War in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

Recent global strategies, such as the 2025 US National Security Strategy, signal a shift in how the world engages with Africa—from a focus on aid to one of investment and partnership. This new approach recognizes Africa’s vast natural resources and economic potential and seeks collaboration with nations committed to growth and openness.

However, history shows that resource extraction alone has not brought widespread prosperity to our continent. With Africa’s population projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, sustainable progress will require industrialization and the creation of goods and services for both local and global markets. Robust economic growth will not only benefit Africans but also make the continent a more attractive partner and market in the global economy.

In this context, universities like Ashesi have a vital role to play. By developing human capital and strong institutions, we can help unlock Africa’s potential far beyond natural resources. We must also strengthen our ties with leading universities worldwide, fostering collaboration and mutual understanding that will drive innovation and shared success.

As we enter our twenty-fifth year, I find myself still energized by the work we do in service of the future happiness of Africans everywhere. However long you’ve been at Ashesi, and whatever role you play in our community, I trust that you do too. I look forward to advancing Ashesi and Africa’s future together, this year, and beyond.

All the best in 2026 and may we continue to find strength in our purpose.