When I got the invitation from the African Development Bank’s ENNOVA team to attend the Sankalp Africa Summit 2025, I had no idea how deeply inspired I would leave the event. As a team member at Zuhura Africa, I’m often on the frontlines supporting young changemakers, but this time, I got to be the one soaking in insights, connecting with innovators, and witnessing powerful moments that reaffirmed why I do what I do. The 12th Sankalp Africa Summit, held in Nairobi on February 26–27, 2025, was an event focused on one critical theme: how to scale Africa’s entrepreneurial potential through innovation, partnerships, and inclusive growth.
A standout moment was having Muriel Akiko represent Zuhura on a high-level panel hosted by AfDB: “From Startups to Scale-Ups: Future-Proofing African Entrepreneurship Ecosystems.” The panel spoke passionately about how collaboration, access to networks, and strategic support are essential in helping startups move from surviving to thriving. Muriel’s presence on the panel reflected the very mission we live out daily at Zuhura collaboration, impact, and community. From discussions on leveraging digital infrastructure to building investor confidence, the speakers highlighted how Africa can scale its homegrown solutions and how startups can scale through tech, investment, supportive policies, and strong ecosystems.
This energy carried over to the launch of the ENNOVA platform. AfDB introduced ENNOVA as a game-changing tool for the ecosystem bringing together ESOs, resources, policy insights, and even real-time networking in one digital space. I registered on the spot. What stood out was how intentionally ENNOVA had been built from its AI features, curated knowledge, and the inclusion of underserved players showed a clear vision: one of access, inclusion, and connectivity.
Another impactful session was “Scaling Care: Unlocking Africa’s Health Innovation Potential.” The stories and challenges shared by health entrepreneurs struck a chord. We often talk about innovation in fintech or agritech, but health tech faces a unique challenge, especially when it comes to funding. Telemedicine, for example, is changing how care is delivered, but infrastructure gaps and policy hurdles are still real. The session left me wondering how we can better support healthcare innovators, especially those serving rural and marginalised populations.
The summit wasn’t all panels. It was also a space for celebration, and nothing captured that better than the Sankalp Africa Awards that recognised impact-driven enterprises addressing pressing development challenges. Hearing Naomi Monari’s story behind Bena Care moved me deeply. Her model of providing affordable home-based care to chronically ill patients is exactly the kind of solution Africa needs: community-rooted, scalable, and life-changing. Her recognition was well deserved, and I found myself reflecting on how many “Naomis” are out there building impact quietly, waiting to be seen and supported.
I also joined the “Sell Like a Boss” masterclass for women entrepreneurs. What a session! The session tackled topics such as pricing, pitching, confidence-building and navigating imposter syndrome. With Africa’s women founders receiving less than 2% of startup funding in 2024, such sessions are timely and necessary to build capability and close persistent equity gaps. I left feeling more grounded in my values and ready to show up in rooms with the same boldness I saw on stage.
Sankalp Africa 2025 was more than just a conference. It was a space of reflection, growth, and connection. I left with new tools, deeper insights, and a strong sense of community. From cheering on Muriel to connecting with women across sectors to dreaming up how Zuhura can use ENNOVA to expand our reach, I’m filled with purpose. The conversations don’t end here. I think they’re just beginning.
By Yvette Mwendwa
