16/03/2026
The AFRETEC Makerthon 2026 officially kicked off today, 16 March 2026, at the C4DLab, University of Nairobi, bringing together talented student innovators from across Africa and partner universities around the world.
The opening ceremony was graced by leadership from the University of Nairobi and AFRETEC partners, including Dr. Sam Ruhiu (AFRETEC – Pathways to Opportunities), Prof. Elisha Abade (Chair of Department), Prof. Francis Nyongesa (Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology), Prof. George Abong' ( Director of University Advancement and Institutional Development and AFRETEC Coordinator -UON) and Prof. Maina Wagacha (Director, IPMO) who also represented the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Enterprise (DVC-RIE).
Students from nine universities are participating in this year’s Makerthon, including: The American University in Cairo, Al Akhawayn University, Universidade Agostinho Neto, CMU-Africa, Universite Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, University of Lagos, University of Nairobi, University of Rwanda, and the University of the Witwatersrand.
Over the next five days, multidisciplinary teams will collaborate, design, and prototype innovative solutions to real-world challenges, guided by mentors from academia and industry. The Makerthon provides a unique platform for students to transform ideas into working prototypes while strengthening skills in problem-solving, teamwork, and entrepreneurship.
Hosted at the University of Nairobi’s C4DLab innovation hub, the event highlights the growing role of African universities in shaping the continent’s innovation ecosystem and nurturing the next generation of technology leaders.
Follow the journey this week as teams move from ideas to prototypes and ultimately present their solutions at the final pitch session.
