— Leaders converge on last-mile solutions, accountability and inclusive development
By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The President of the National Assembly of Côte d’Ivoire and former Prime Minister, H.E. Patrick Achi, has been announced as the keynote speaker for the Gender & Inclusion Summit 2026 (GS26), as African leaders and development stakeholders intensify efforts to translate policy commitments and innovations into tangible benefits for underserved communities.
The Policy Innovation Centre (PIC), organisers of the summit, said Achi would headline the high-level gathering holding in Abuja from September 7 to 9, 2026.
The summit, regarded as one of Africa’s leading platforms for advancing gender equality, inclusion and sustainable development, is themed: “From Agenda to Action: Making Innovations Count for the Last Mile.”
Achi, an engineer, development strategist and public policy expert, brings more than three decades of experience in economic transformation, infrastructure development and institutional reform across Africa.
His experience also extends to global policy engagement, including his role as an External Advisor to the joint IMF–World Bank Bretton Woods at 80 Initiative on the future of the global economy. He also serves on the World Bank Group’s High-Level Advisory Council on Jobs.
According to PIC, Achi’s extensive background in engineering, infrastructure, economic policy and national governance reflects the central objective of this year’s summit — moving development initiatives beyond policy discussions and ensuring that their benefits reach people at the grassroots.
The Centre said his leadership experience represents the practical, outcome-driven approach required to ensure that innovation and development interventions reach women, young people, persons with disabilities and other underserved communities.
Speaking on the announcement, the Executive Director of the Policy Innovation Centre, Dr. Osasuyi Dirisu, said Africa must strengthen the systems and partnerships needed to convert innovative ideas into measurable outcomes.
“Africa is not short of ideas. What we need are stronger systems, partnerships, and accountability mechanisms that turn promising innovations into meaningful outcomes for people,” Dirisu said.
She added that the Centre was honoured to welcome Achi to GS26, noting that his record in public leadership and economic transformation would bring valuable insight to discussions on how Africa could move from commitments to meaningful action.
The three-day summit will bring together leaders from government, the private sector, academia, civil society and development organisations to develop practical solutions to some of Africa’s most pressing development challenges.
Key areas of focus will include education, healthcare, economic inclusion, climate resilience, prevention of gender-based violence, transportation and security.
Organisers said this year’s edition would place stronger emphasis on implementation, accountability and partnership-building, with participants expected to explore ways of ensuring that development innovations produce meaningful and measurable impact at the last mile.
The Gender and Inclusion Summit, which was conceptualised in 2022, has grown into an annual pan-African platform for promoting gender equality, inclusion and gender-responsive governance.
The summit provides opportunities for policymakers, researchers, development practitioners and other stakeholders to exchange ideas, share research and explore innovative approaches to addressing gender and inclusion challenges across Africa.
The Policy Innovation Centre, an initiative of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), is Africa’s first national institutionalised behavioural initiative supporting governments and stakeholders to make behaviourally informed decisions and generate evidence for impact-driven interventions.
With Achi set to deliver the keynote address, expectations are high that GS26 will further strengthen Africa’s push to move from policy agendas to practical action, ensuring that innovation and development reach communities and populations most in need.
