Joel Ajayi
Social enterprise, Vivacity Development, has announced plans to host two major international engagements in September 2026 aimed at advancing Africa’s evolving future-of-work agenda and expanding opportunities for young entrepreneurs and professionals.
The organisation disclosed that the second edition of its Investors Connect London summit will hold at Imperial College London on September 11, while a high-level dialogue will take place during the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) High-Level Week at Cornell University, New York City, on September 24.
According to Vivacity Development, the events will focus on mobilising investment, strengthening international partnerships and preparing Africa’s workforce for the demands of the global economy by 2030.
Chief Executive Officer of Vivacity Development, Engr. Oluwakemi Ann-Melody Areola, said the future of work extends beyond technology and artificial intelligence, stressing the need for a diversified economic approach.
“The future of work isn’t just a tech conversation; it is an economic survival conversation. We cannot build a resilient nation by preparing youth for a single industry. From digital systems and green energy to the creative arts, sports management and the care economy, our focus must be on institutionalised scaling and specialised expertise,” she said.
The organisation identified seven strategic sectors it believes will drive employment and economic growth in Africa. They include agriculture, technology, sports, creative industries, health and care services, the green economy and education.
Vivacity noted that while the Federal Government has introduced initiatives such as the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Programme and other digital economy reforms, greater collaboration between government, investors and social enterprises is needed to bridge existing gaps in funding, mentorship and practical training.
The organisation also highlighted its record of facilitating 16 international convenings and working with institutions including the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Senate Committee on Environment, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Sahara Foundation, African Women in Tech and the Sam Empowerment Foundation.
As part of its next phase of intervention, Vivacity Development announced plans to train at least 200,000 Nigerian youths before the end of the year through a digital learning platform currently under development.
The initiative, according to the organisation, will provide specialised training in areas such as sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, sports analytics, creative project management, care services and educational technology.
Vivacity said further details of the programme, including curriculum content, faculty members and application processes, would be unveiled during the London and New York events.
The Investors Connect London summit is expected to bring together global investors and African innovators to explore new financing models for business growth, while the UNGA 81 dialogue will focus on strategic partnerships, cross-border investments and workforce development across multiple industries.
