Jozi Journeys

The Kids Are Building Africa: Why the EEA Summit in Joburg Matters More Than Ever

Published

2 months ago

June 30, 2025

Chiraag

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Imagine an Africa where entrepreneurship isn’t just a fallback but the first choice, led by teenagers. That’s the driving force behind the Entrepreneurship Education in Africa (EEA) Summit, set for Wednesday, 6 August 2025, at Johannesburg’s African Leadership Academy.

Why the EEA Summit Matters

This is far from just another industry gathering. It’s a vibrant, pan-African convergence of educators, investors, parents, and policymakers united by one critical question: How can we better support the very young entrepreneurs already shaping Africa’s future?

From Classrooms to Companies: A New Model of Learning

Organised by Anzisha, the summit spotlights youth entrepreneurship education that delivers real results. For over a decade, the Anzisha Prize has championed young business talents aged 15 to 22, transforming side hustles into scalable ventures and school projects into job-creating enterprises.

Their impact? More than 150 young entrepreneurs across 32 countries, many launching ventures before finishing high school. The 2025 summit not only showcases these successes but also calls for a more sustainable, supportive ecosystem for early-age entrepreneurship.

What to Expect: Ideas, Awards, and Action

The 2025 theme, “Building Communities to Support the Very Young Entrepreneur Scenario for Africa,” goes beyond classroom reform. It embraces ecosystem thinking: How can teachers, parents, investors, and governments collaborate to nurture and protect this emerging generation of innovators?

Highlights include:

Talks by leading entrepreneurship education experts
Collaborative networking between educators and funders
Opportunities to challenge assumptions, rethink systems, and forge cross-border connections
The #AnzishaPrize Awards Gala, celebrating 2023’s brightest young entrepreneurs with cash prizes and global recognition

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Image 1: regtech africa

More Than a Prize: It’s a Movement

Anzisha’s mantra, “We are not just a prize; we are a movement,” resonates strongly in 2025. In a continent where youth unemployment remains a pressing challenge, this summit does more than inspire, it strategises. It pressures institutions to evolve and shines a spotlight on young talent often overlooked due to age.

Already, educators and alumni are praising the summit on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn as one of Africa’s most forward-thinking youth development events.

The Bottom Line: The Future Isn’t Waiting: It’s Working

For Africa to unlock its economic potential, entrepreneurship must be embraced as a viable career path from as young as 15. The EEA Summit is where this shift happens, not just in ideas but through building the ecosystems that make it real.

Here, 16-year-olds pitch innovations that could transform water supply in rural villages. Teachers discover new curricula to teach entrepreneurship in under-resourced classrooms. Parents learn how to support children who dream of building apps rather than following traditional corporate paths.

And it’s all happening right here in Joburg.